Performances in Shute (Devon), Ilminster (Somerset), Bridport and Lyme Regis (Dorset)

Passion, originality and a distinct flair for baroque music are the trademark qualities that distinguish violinist Kinga Ujszaszi and guitarist/lutenist Jadran Duncumb who play together under the name Repicco, which coincidentally happens to be a strumming technique for baroque guitar.

While normally performing as a duo, Ujszaszi and Duncumb will also expand Repicco to include other musicians, which is the case for their Concerts in the West tour in Devon, Dorset and Somerset, from 19 to 21 May, when they will be accompanied by Andre Lislevand (viola da gamba) and Ciara Hendrick, mezzo soprano.

Jadran Duncumb explained that although with Repicco, he and Ujszaszi focus primarily on Italian baroque, they are also happy to make forays into other times and places: "We enjoy creating and performing fluid and varied programmes of familiar and unfamiliar music that is suited to our instruments. It also allows us to present this music in a novel and flexible, yet historically-informed way, as well as bypassing the practical problems of needing a harpsichord."

Ujszaszi and Duncumb joined forces in 2012 to create Repicco, but are also in demand as soloists and chamber musicians, playing with some of Europe's leading period ensembles and orchestras. Repicco were selected as finalists of the 2013 York Early Music Competition and as Ambronay EEEmerging Artists in 2015. They won the EEEmerging Audience prize in the Ambronay Festival of the same year. The latter success has given them the chance to give recitals and workshops in Romania, Italy, France, Germany and Latvia.

Commenting on the forthcoming Repicco concert tour, Catherine Hodgson, founder and director of Concerts in the West, said:

"I can't wait to hear Repicco perform. They are outstanding young musicians and the concerts will be further enhanced by Ciara's beautiful voice and André' on the viola da gamba. Italian baroque is noted for its catchy and emotional tunes - the sort that you find yourself humming for weeks after a concert. The musical programme that Kinga and Jadran have chosen will bring out the natural beauty of their chosen instruments and will showcase Ciara's gorgeous vocals."

Biographies
After graduating from the Franz Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, Kinga Ujszaszi moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music, where she became interested in historical performance and picked up the baroque violin. Since then she has played with many leading English period performance groups and frequently appears with the Academy of Ancient Music, English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestra Revolutionaire et Romantic. She also leads the chamber music group Spiritato! and has a classical/romantic string quartet, the HIP4tet.

Jadran is an English/Croatian/Norwegian lutenist and guitarist who, in 2008, was a finalist in both the BBC Young Musician of the Year and Virtuos, NRK's Norwegian equivalent, which led to concerto performances with major Norwegian and British orchestras and solo recitals around Europe. During his studies in London he was introduced to early music and has since become a busy performer on the lute and theorbo. In July 2015, he was awarded first prize at the Maurizio Pratola lute competition in L’Aquila, Italy, as well as a distinction for his final Master’s recital in Trossingen, Germany.

Andre Lislevand has been exposed to early music all his life and it soon became apparent that he would follow in the footsteps of his lutenist parents, when, aged 11, he began studying viola da gamba with Alberto Rasi at the Conservatory of Verona. Since the age of 16 he has performed with various chamber groups from the South of Europe to Scandinavia. He also frequently performs solo or in duet with his father Rolf Lislevand and Jadran Duncumb. He is currently studying for a Master’s degree at the Schola Cantorum Basilensis .

Mezzo soprano Ciara Hendrick studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Strasbourg Opera Studio. Recent performances include Fortuna/Valetto in The Coronation of Poppea, Opera North (Laurence Cummings), Betrayal: A polyphonic crime drama with I Fagiolini, Aréthuse in Charpentier’s Actéon with the Early Opera Company and Venus in the world-premier recording of Pepusch’s opera, Venus and Adonis. She sings with the Early Opera Company and is due to perform Beethoven’s Folk Songs with Sholto Kynoch and will undertake a recital tour with Emma Abbate.

Musical Programme - Kinga Ujszászi (violin), Jadran Duncumb (theorbo/baroque guitar), André Lislevand (viola da gamba) and Ciara Hendrick (mezzo-soprano):

Appena Chiudo Gl'occhi 

Shute, Ilminster, Lyme concerts
Scarlatti Appena chiudo gl’occhi H. 59; Stradella Sinfonia 22 for violin and two bass instruments; Stradella
Due arie italiane; Lonati Violin Sonata No 2 in G minor; Handel Cantata:No se emendera jamas HWV140; Corelli Sonata 'La Follia'; Handel Figlio d’alte speranze HWV113; Handel Susse Stille, sanfte Quelle, HWV205.

Bridport
Marini Sonata Quarta, Per sonar con due Corde; Stradella Sinfonia 22 for violin and two bass instruments; BuxtehudeSonata in G minor, Op 2 No 3; Lonati Violin Sonata No 2 in G minor; Kapsberger Ballo Primo from Book four of Intavolatura del Chitarone; Corelli Sonata 'La Follia'.

Performance and Box Office Details for Repicco and friends:

Thursday 19 May 7.30pm, St Michael's Shute. Haddon Road, Shute, Devon, EX13 7QR. Tickets: £15. Box Office:  Box Office: Hurfords Stores, Kilmington, EX13 7RG - 01297 3320. The Archway Bookshop, Axminster 01297 33744 - EX13 5AQ. Concessions for students and children. Parking. Interval drinks. Disabled access.

Friday 20 May 11am-12pm, Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3NR. Box office: 01308 424204. Tickets: £10 Concessions available - Coffee included, town parking and car parks, Bridport Arts Centre cafe, disabled access.

Friday 20 May 8pm, Ilminster Arts Centre at The Meeting House, East Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0AN. Box Office: 01460 55783 9.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday (Pre-concert supper at 7pm - advanced booking required £13) www.themeetinghouse.org.uk Tickets: £15. Bar and café, IAC and town parking, plus car parks, disabled access.

Saturday 21 May 2pm The Marine Theatre, Church Streets, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3QB. Tickets: £15. Box office: 01297 442138. (Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre) or Theatre Office: 01297 442394. Concessions available. Town parking and car parks, bar, disabled access.