Anniversary Concert by the Kumpare & Vešligaj Duo

The concert celebrating 15 years of the clarinet and piano duo formed by Pula-based musicians David Kumpare, clarinetist, and Sandro Vešligaj, pianist, will take place on Saturday, October 31, at 8 p.m. at the Community of Italians in Pula. Throughout their career, the clarinet and piano duo has been particularly recognized for its strong commitment to promoting the music of Istrian composers throughout Croatia, as well as presenting the works of Croatian and Istrian composers abroad, particularly in Slovenia, Italy, Germany, and Serbia. The clarinet and piano duo also encourages contemporary composers to write new works for this ensemble, thereby expanding the repertoire for clarinet and piano. For their anniversary concert, the clarinet and piano duo has selected two masterpieces of the repertoire: the Sonatas by Hindemith and Bernstein, works with which they have achieved considerable success and received positive reviews from music professionals. The programme will also feature a new addition to the duo’s repertoire, Five Bagatelles by the lesser-known English composer Gerald Finzi. Pula-based composer Branko Okmaca has dedicated three works to the clarinet and piano duo. The latest, Four Bagatelles, will receive its world premiere at this concert, giving the Pula audience the opportunity to hear the work performed for the first time.