
photo López
Vicens
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Born
in Barcelona obtained advanced diplomas in solfeggio, piano and chamber
music at the Barcelona Superior Conservatoire.The sisters have won several
prizes for piano (the 5th and 6th Berga and the 27th Vilafranca Competitions,
and those held at the Barcelona Superior Conservatoire), for composition
(ACD in Barcelona in 1992, 93, 95 and 96) and for chamber music (10th
Mostra by the Generalitat Government of Catalonia, 2nd Castellterçol
Competition and 4th L'ARJAU Competition).
Since their début
as a professional duet in 1993 they have performed in several towns
throughout Spain, remarking their performance at the "Palau de
la Música Catalana", and also at the EPTA Congress for Music
for two Pianos in Namur, Belgium. They've performed Spanish music in
Philippines, in the PBS Concert Hall in Cebu and in the Cervantes Institute
of Manila. Recently (in december 2014) the were special guests at the
International Piano City Napoli (Italy).
Their repertory ranges from baroque to contemporary music, and they
have given first performances of important Spanish composers like
A. Bofill, X. Boliart, D. Colomé, C. Colomer, D. M. González
de la Rubia. , A. Guinovart, J. Mª Mestres Quadreny, Mª R.
Ribas, M. Ros, A.-O. Sabater, F. Taverna-Bech, M. Torrents and F. Wort.
The sisters have
been awarded grants by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1995,
1997), the Spanish Ministry of Culture (1995), the Luxembourg Ministry
of Culture (1997) and the AIE, Interprets and Executants Association
(1998, 1999 and 2000).
They have also
taken part in recordings with the composer Josep Mª Mestres-Quadreny
(CD by Ars Harmonica), and with the composer Mercè Torrents (CD
by the Associació catalana de Compositors). They have recorded
for radio with Radio Nacional-4, Radio Nacional-2, COM-Radio and Catalunya
Música and for Canal 33 and BTV- Barcelona Television.
In 2004 they released
the CD 21th Century Contemporary Music (Ars
Harmònica 135). In 2008 they released the CD Dances
(Ars Harmònica 191).
The critics have highlighted their “mutual understanding and self-confidence,
which express a deep and continuous interpretation together” (A.
Gomila, Diari de Menorca);
“Identified with the spirit of the pieces and with first-rate
piano technique, the Vela sisters enlivened the music...” (Revista
Musical Catalana);
“They honour their high artistic consideration and we will never
thank them enough for their interest in the music written now and here”
(X. Casanoves Danés, Avui);
“They have won the heart of the Cebuans at the concert”
(H. Jarque Loop, The Philippine Star);
“Their sound together and conjunction is so great that we may
say that they play music in four hands but conducted by one sole brain.
But their main argument is not only the unity but also the transparency
of the sound, as well as the self-confidence that they display in a
very risky repertoire in which no aesthetic concessions are observed”
(L. Hidalgo Martín, El Norte de Castilla);
“...it unveiled the interpreters’ capacity to identify themselves
with the different proposals of each composer… the high precision,
both in the gradation of the sound as well as in the rhythmical pulsation
and the emotiveness of the phrasing, constituted the key of a memorable
audition” (F.T-B., Revista Musical Catalana);
“...in addition to the technical skill and understanding of the
works they interpret, they show their knowledge on the authors, increasing
the suitability of their interpretation” (I. Albors, catclassics.com);
“...an ensemble that has become one of the most representative
of our country… as well as an opportunity to enjoy some performances
that the listener will be grateful for due to their transparency and
agility” (J. Salazar, Revista Musical Catalana- Catalunya Música);
“Tenacity, perseverance, eagerness to better themselves and commitment
with contemporary composition and with Catalan musicians have characterised
these ten years of the Vela Duet, who with this fresh, kaleidoscopic
and impeccable CD put a crown to their whole trajectory” (X. Chavarria,
Serra d’Or).
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