Press Kit

Jonas Skielboe

Guitar

Jonas Skielboe is fastestablishing as an exiting and versatile guitarist in Holland and Europe. Afterstudying in Denmark, Switzerland, Spain and Holland he is pursuing a busycareer as chamber musician as well as a soloist.

 

As an active chamber musician hehas worked extensively with violinist and flutist in duo constellations, whichhas brought him as far away as Venezuela. He has performed with string quartetsand in May 2008 he did the first performance of Federico Moreno Torroba's"Interludes" for guitar and woodwind quintet, which has not before beenperformed in its entirety.

In his passion for Latin Americanmusic it can be mentioned that he furthermore has been playing in several tangoquintets.

He is a member of the "NewEuropean Ensemble" which is a gathering of some of the finest chamber musiciansfrom around Europe.

The work as chamber musician hasexpanded his repertoire of instruments to include electric guitar, banjo, andmandolin.

For the last few years, Jonas hasdevoted most of his time to the study of Spanish and Latin American music andin that relation formed his critically acclaimed "Duo Cajon" with the Dutch alto Carina Vinke.Together with Carina and solo, Jonas has performed in some of the finestfestival in Spain, specialized in repertoire for piano, guitar and voice.

He has worked with renownedflamenco guitarists and specialists in the Spanish Latin American repertoire,such as José María Gallardo del Rey, Oscar Herrero and Ernesto Bitetti.

In his work with singers he isestablishing himself as accompanist and in that relation expanding the voiceand guitar repertoire, with his arrangements of especially piano music.

Jonas currently lives inThe Hague, the Netherlands and performs regularly in Holland and around Europe.www.jonasskielboe.com

 

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Program 1

 

Duo Cajon “Connected” Andalusia

Spanish virtuosi inspired by flamenco and folklore

Carina Vinke and Jonas Skielboe met in July 2005 during a music festival at Granada.
They both are looking for the roots of Spanish folk music and classical repertoire.
Granada is the city of the Moresque Alhambra, the rock shelters of the gypsies, and the patios filled with the sound of cante jondo (the name means deep song). But Granada also is the city of Manuel de Falla and Federico García Lorca, the composer and the poet who became close friends and set up the first cante jondo festival.
Flamenco and folklore, de Falla and García Lorca, Moors and gypsies - they are all linked up by the musical performance of Duo Cajon.

Program 2

 

Duo Cajon goes Latin!

“Goes Latin” is only possible when the musicians have a thorough command of the right pronunciation, the right style and the right feeling. Duo Cajon has opted for music from Argentina, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Venezuela.

The Argentinian composer Guastavino is hardly known in Europe, but is rightfully called the Schubert of South America. His legacy consists of some 200 art songs, including the wonderful La Rosa y el Sauce. His 20th-century equivalent and one of the leading guitarists, the Cuban Leo Brouwer mainly composes for his own instrument. Ernesto Cordero’s Songs from Puerto Rico reflect the beauty of the country and the friendliness of its people. Antonio Lauro, Venezuela’s best-known composer, uses the treasures of the folk culture. Duo Cajon selected songs from Brazil full of saudade, the feeling of nostalgic longing. Piazolla’s Milongas and Tangos are imbued with the beauty and the struggle for life in Buenos Aires.

Program 3

 

España y Catalunia

A Spanish-Catalan programme with well-known and newly composed songs
The songs of Ferran Sor date back to the beginning of the 19th century. They often are called pre-flamenco, because this music developed into what we now call flamenco music. The lyrics Sor used are very humane, often with a wink and therefore very familiar. The Catalan Feliu Gasull fused flamenco with contemporary classical music into a very interesting composition. With a familiar style all his own, he transforms philosophical Catalan poems into six similar songs. Francisco Tarrega was a virtuoso on the guitar and the major ‘romantic’ Spanish guitar composer. In the songs Enrique Granados wrote from the perspective of the Maja (the woman), elegance, humour and tragedy predominate. Javier Montsalvatge was inspired by the South American culture. In the verses of Cinco Canciones Negras are, for example, a fair number of non-Spanish words. His songs contain harmonies, which are also non-typical Spanish.

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Reviews and quotes

 

Granada festival of Spanish art song

I highly recommend Duo Cajon to any event where you can look for a great musical performance.
José Maria Gallardo Del Rey, multi awarded guitarist; accompanist of Teresa Berganza Madrid September 2007
Barcelona festival of song

 

Duo Cajon makes such a harmonious presentation, fun to watch as well as delectable to listen to!
I've been playing your CD over and over - your beautiful voice just washes over me and inspires me with its beauty, richness and passion!

Mary Kay McGarvey, soprano, National Opera Association, New York August 2008

 

Madrid festival of Spanish and Latin American art song

Carina and Jonas are so connected as a duo that we cannot separate one from another
 With the dedication and passion such as they show I can only say, congratulations!

Ernesto Bitetti, classical guitarist, July 2008

 

Mahler “Second Symphony”

 Ashkenazy conductor, European Youth Orchestra, 'Het Nederlands Concertkoor', Griet de Geyter soprano en Carina Vinke alto.
Especially the attractive performed Urlicht opened up new horizons thanks to Vinke’s warm, restrained solo.

Bela Luttmer, De Volkskrant, August 2008

 

Concert Duo Cajon

The cooperation between Carina Vinke and Jonas Skielboe deserves extra attention owing to the extremely high musical quality. Certainly a great experience for lovers of opera-like, as well as South American and Spanish music.

Wessel Berkhout, Erica Journaal, March 2008

 

Constant van der Wall “Opera Attima”

The production depended on Annemarie Kremer and Carina Vinke, the former an imposing soprano, the latter an alt mezzo with a beautiful timbre and, in addition, a striking stage personality.

Aad van der Ven, Den Haag Centraal, May 2008