DUO MARES
Welcome to the page of the viola and accordion duo by Esra Pehlivanli & Marko Kassl, Duo MARES, one of the first established duos in its class.
Duo MARES has been performing numerous concerts since 2004 and working intensively with today's composers in order to create and enlarge the repertory of this striking instrumentation.
The unique sound of the combination viola and accordion is amazingly versatile and carries along surprising aural possibilities. At date, there have been over 40 compositions dedicated to Duo MARES. The concert programmes include works from early till contemporary music, next to interdisciplinary performances.
Here under, you can find our repertory & programmes, photos, cd's, videos from concerts, as well as biographical information about Duo MARES.
Thanks for visiting!
De kleuren van de instrumenten zijn soms nauwelijks te onderscheiden, zo subtiel vloeit alles in elkaar over. Prachtig hoe het duo een nieuwe en fascinerende klankwereld aanboort. Virtuositeit en veelzijdigheid.
Anthony Fiumara,Trouw
Esra PEHLIVANLI and Marko KASSL established one of the first Viola & Accordion duo in 2004. The unique sound of the combination viola and accordion is amazingly versatile and carries along surprising aural possibilities. At date, there have been over 40 compositions dedicated to them. Duo MARES ’s exceptional performances includes music from early, classic, tango, contemporary music and interdisciplinary performances.
Both artists have been awarded as prize winners at international music competitions. PEHLIVANLI won several prizes such as the V. Krzyzstof Penderecki International Contemporary Music Competition (Poland), Torneo Internazionale di Musica (Italy), the first prize in Premio Valentino Bucchi International Viola Competition (Italy), where she also received the Medaglia del Presidente della Repubblica Italiana. Recently, she was awarded "The String Player of the Year" in Donizetti Classical Music Awards 2013. KASSL received a number of prizes as well, such as Stipendium Richard-Wagner Verbandes, GWK Förderpreis Musik, JAA International Accordion Competition (Japan), International “ProLoco” Competition (Italy) and first prize at the Österreichischen Akkordeonwettbewerb (Austria). At the moment he is teaching at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold in Germany and Amsterdam Conservatory in The Netherlands.
As a chamber music ensemble, Duo MARES was prize winner at the Jur Naessens Music Award 2009 (The Netherlands) with their multidisciplinary project Volume Nuevo+. The repertory of Duo MARES spans from transcriptions of the masterpieces from the past, up to original works of the present time. The duo is at the moment working intensively with today’s composers, in order to create new repertory for this unique combination. Over fourty compositions have been dedicated to the duo by composers such as Ivo Petric, Roderik De Man, Chiel Meijering, Bruno Strobl, Nico Huijbregts, Gerard Beljon, Sinta Wullur, Matthias Grimminger, Cristoph Theiler, Anne La Berge, Gerhard Stäbler, a.o. including two concertos for viola, accordion and symphony orchestra by Selim Dogru and Frank Zabel.
Duo MARES has presented a great variety of concerts in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Venezuela, Ireland, Cyprus, Denmark and participated in festivals such as Grachtenfestival Amsterdam, Internationaal Kamermuziek Festival Utrecht, Kamermuziekfestival Hoorn, De “Wohltemperierte” Accordeon, Akkorde-On-Stage, Dortmund Mommenta Festival, Mommenta Münsterland Festival, Kölner Musiknacht, International Ankara Music Festival, International Mersin Music Festival, Festival Latinoamericano de Música, Music For Galway, Ljubljana Festival, Bellapais International Music Festival, Vendsyssel Festival.
The first album of the duo VOLUME NUEVO released by the German label CC ClassicClips. This world premiere recording includes a selection of the compositions dedicated to Duo MARES between 2006 and 2009. The second album Richness of the Tones has been released by the Turkish label CAGSAV Müzik. The album includes new compositions of Turkish and Dutch composers, including the first composition for Viola, Accordion and Symphony Orchestra "Devil's Diary" by Selim Dogru (live recording from the world premiere).
- Christian Winther Christensen "Täuschung" (Ein Licht tanzt freundlich vor mir her) Version for viola and accordion with electronics (max/MSP patch) (2012/2018). Premiered on 8 July 2018 / Vendsyssel Festival , Norresundby Denmark.
- Ulrich Schultheiss "paso doble" for viola and accordion (2015). Premiered on 22 November 2015 / Kroonconcerten Hippolytushoef , Netherands.
- Gabriel Malancioiu "Viccordion" for viola and accordion (2015) . Premiered on 22 November 2015 / Kroonconcerten Hippolytushoef, Netherlands.
- Johannes K. Hildebrandt "In tre.2" for panflute, viola and accordion (2015). Premiered on 24 October 2015 / Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst Hörstel, Germany. panflute: Matthijs Koene
- Chiel Meijering "Amber and Cream" version for viola, accordion and panflute (2007/2015) Premiered on 24 October 2015 / Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst Hörstel, Germany. panflute: Matthijs Koene
- Khadija Zeynalova "Sema" for viola and accordion (2015). Premiered on 5 June 2015 / 19th North Cyprus International Bellapais Music Festival, Nort Cyprus.
- Stephan Froleyks "strömend,fließend" for viola, panflute and accordion (2014). Premiered on 26 September 2014 / Muziekbiennale Niederrhein / Schloss Rheydt Germany. panflute: Matthijs Koene
- Johannes K. Hildebrandt "In tre" for recorder, viola and accordion (2013). Premiered on 24 November 2013 / Jazz Schmiede Düsseldorf - Germany. recorder: Jorge Isaac.
- Frank Zabel "Double Concerto" for Viola, Accordion and Symphony Orchestra (2013). Premiered on 12 May 2013 / Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Recklinghausen – Germany.
- Pèter Koeszeghy "Pearl" for Viola and Accordion (2012). Premiered on 17 Novembe r2012 / Versöhnungskirche, Düsseldorf - Germany.
- Christoph Theiler "Danse Dérangée" for Viola and Accordion (2012). Premiered on 17 November 2012 / Versöhnungskirche, Düsseldorf - Germany.
- Erik Janson "Getanzte Zerfetzung" for Viola and Accordion (2012). Premiered on 17 November 2012 / Versöhnungskirche, Düsseldorf - Germany.
- Henry Mex "Slices On Bratschak" for Viola and Accordion (2012). Premiered on 17 Novembe r2012 / Versöhnungskirche, Düsseldorf - Germany.
- Wilfried Maria Danner "Verwerfungen. Fragmente, Bruchstückel" for Viola and Accordion (2012). Premiered on 22 September 2012 / Kölner Musicknacht, Köln - Germany.
- Roderik De Man "Tangente" for Viola and Accordion (2011). Premiered on 07 December 2011 / Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam - The Netherlands.
- Gerhard Stabler "Black Tiger Tango" for Viola and Accordion (2011). Premiered on 17 November 2011 / Stg. Kamermuziek Almelo, Almelo - The Netherlands.
- Anne La Berge "PLIGHT" for Viola, Accordion and Max/MSP (2011). Premiered on 11 September 2011 / Kunsthalle Lingen, Lingen - Germany.
- Frank Zabel "Verwerfungen II" for Viola and Accordion (2008). Premiered on 23 January 2011 / Bethaniënklooster, Amsterdam - The Netherlands.
- Tolga Özdemir "Karadeniz" for Viola and Accordion (2008). Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 23 January 2011 / Bethaniënklooster, Amsterdam - The Netherlands.
- Gökce Altay "Perpetum Mobile" for Viola and Accordion (2009). Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 30 October 2010 / Klangwerkstatt Detmold, Detmold - Germany.
- Matthias Grimminger "Collage" 5 Notturni für Bratsche und Akkordeon (2009) Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 29 October 2010 / Museum Schloss Moyland, Bedburg Hau - Germany.
- Sinta Wullur "Moods and Modes" (2009) for Viola & Accordion. Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 17 December 2009 / Provadja, Alkmaar - The Netherlands.
- Gerard Beljon "Bye..." (2009) for Viola & Accordion. Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 04 October 2009 / Galerie Marzee, Nijmegen - The Netherlands.
- Yigit Kolat "Exlibris" (2008) for Viola & Accordion. Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 04 October 2009 / Galerie Marzee, Nijmegen - The Netherlands.
- Hakan Ali Toker "Notenbuch für Pernille Elisabeth Bertolsen" (1999) for Piano. Version for Viola and Accordion made by the composer himself for Duo Mares (2009). Premiered on 05 September 2009 / Christuskirche, Dusseldorf - Germany.
- Selim Dogru "Devils Diary" (2008) for Viola & Accordion and Symphony Orchestra.Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 24 October 2008 / Anadolu Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Burak Tuzun, Eskisehir - Turkey.
- Mikhail Geller "NEBO" for Viola , Accordion, Piano.
Premiered on 28 September 2008 / Kasteel Hernen , Hernen - The Netherlands.
- Nico Huijbregts "Falsche Tango" (2007) for Viola & Accordion. Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 14 September 2008 / Kunsthalle Lingen, Lingen - Germany.
- Chiel Meijering "Bumelen Gehen" (2007) for Viola & Accordion. Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 14 January 2008 / De Nutszaal, Enkhuizen – The Netherlands.
- Chiel Meijering "Amber & Cream" (2007) for Viola & Accordion. Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 25 November 2007 / De Schakel, Heerhugowaard – The Netherlands.
- Ivo Petric "Duo Concertante" (2006) for Viola & Accordion. Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 27 October 2007 / Akkorde - On - Stage Festival, Salzburg - Austria.
- Bruno Strobl "Wellen. Brechungen" (2007) for Viola & Accordion. Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 27 October 2007 / Akkorde - On - Stage Festival, Salzburg - Austria.
- Selim Dogru "Elegy" (2007) for Viola, Accordion, tape. Written for Duo MARES. Premiered on 15 April 2007 / 24. International Ankara Music Festival , Ankara - Turkey.