Recital: Duo Jardin Féerique – piano duo

The Programme

Nafis Umerkulova – piano
Veronika Shoot – piano

from Kinderszenen, Op 15
Von fremden Ländern und Menschen
Träumerei
Der Dichter spricht

from Le Tombeau de Couperin
Forlane

from Bunte Blätter, Op 99
Fünf Albumblätter:
IV. Ziemlich langsam
V. Schnell
VI. Ziemlich langsam, sehr gesangvoll
VIII. Langsam
XI. Novellette. Lebhaft

6 Canonic Etudes, Op 56
(arranged Debussy for 4 hands)

from Ma mère l’Oye
Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant
Les Entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête
Le Jardin Féerique

The Artists

Born in Tashkent, Nafis Umerkulova started piano at the age of five inspired by her mother, who was a pianist. From 2004 Nafis moved to the UK and was awarded full scholarships to the Purcell School, Royal Academy of Music (2006) and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2010). Nafis is a passionate soloist and a chamber musician. In September 2019 she released her debut album ‘Darkness illuminated’ featuring the music of Alexander Scriabin and his rarely-heard contemporary – Alexei Stanchinsky. In addition to her performance career, Nafis is dedicated to sharing her experience with younger generations and enjoys teaching very much. She is currently a piano faculty member at the Purcell School and is also working together with her colleagues on their independent Philomel Music Academy.

Russian-Ukranian born Veronika Shoot is a multi-faceted artist, performer and collaborator. Graduating with first class honours from the Royal Academy of Music and Royal Scottish Conservatoire she has performed as soloist, concerto and chamber musician in some of the world’s leading concert venues. Veronika grew up surrounded by nature, music and the arts with her father being a composer. Her passion lies in innovative music making, creating unique programmes, paving a new path with collaborations and education projects that aim to enable the listener to engage deeply and experientially through music in a way that stimulates a personal connection, creativity, and self knowledge. She released an album of Miniature gems by known and unknown composers, including Schumann, Debussy, and premieres by Vladislav Shoot titled Journey Through Childhood, with Ulysses Arts. She is the founder of The Balanced Artist, a platform to support the health of all artists through music, meditation and yoga and is a certified yoga teacher.

Duo Jardin Féerique was formed by Veronika and Nafis, making their Wigmore Hall debut in 2007. Together and individually, they have performed in venues around the world and in British venues including St John’s Smith Square, South Bank Centre, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Glasgow City Halls, Manchester Bridgewater Hall, Birmingham Town and Symphony Halls.