RUBATO Violin - Accordion

The RUBATO duo was born of a common musical passion, but also a common passion between its members since - both on and o stage these two artists are united in harmonious matrimony! It was with their work together in the ASTORIA ensemble (created in 2004) that the RUBATO duo took o, notably with their rendition of Astor Piazzolla s Caf 1930 . After a few concert appearances, the public was conquered and incited the duo to develop its own repertoire. The association of violin and Bayan (concert accordion) is common in Central European popular traditions. This surprising combination of sonorities opens up a highly eclectic repertoire. From Bach to Tchaikovsky, by way of Gypsy music, the Argentine master Astor Piazzolla, Saint-Sans, Jacques Brel or traditional Klezmer music, Isabelle Chardon (violin) and Christophe Delporte (accordion) bring music to life in a hand-to-hand courtship dance with their instruments. The accordion s immense success in popular traditions still sometimes obscures its objective merits, certain commentators confusing popular success with an implied sub-instrument status. Any such preconceptions are instantly swept away by the sight of these two artists revelling in the full riches of this formidable musical instrument. RUBATO s sound attains such a degree of fusion that the violin seems to

be the heart and the accordion the lungs of a single body swelling with emotion

Isabelle CHARDON Violin

After obtaining Advanced Degrees in violin and chamber music at the Conservatoire Royal de Musique (Royal Conservatory of Music) in Brussels and Mons, Isabelle Chardon was winner in 1991 of the Mozart Competition organised by the Brussels Young Talents Artistic Association (1991), going on to become Concertmaster of the Belgian Communaut Franaise s Youth Chamber Orchestra (1993 and 1994). A highly sought after chamber music partner, she has recorded for numerous variety artists, but also with the Belgian National Orchestra, in which she has been violin soloist since 1994. Since 2004, she has been a founding member of the ensemble ASTORIA and specialises in performance of Astor Piazzolla s music. Astoria has just recorded a Live DVD, as well as their third album, entitled Histoire du Tango , on the Fuga Libera label. With Astoria, she participates regularly in various radio and television

broadcasts, album and DVD recordings and performances on the Belgian and international concert circuits. Astoria is also a regular xture in the calendar of Belgian outreach programme Jeunesses Musicales.

Christophe DELPORTE accordion

Christophe Delporte received his professional training at the Conservatoire Royal de Musique de Mons (Mons Royal Conservatory of Music), obtaining Higher Diplomas successively in accordion, chamber music and specialised option in solfge.

His artistic career was incontestably launched in 1989, when he participated in the RTBF s Jeunes Solistes (Young Soloists Competition, on Belgian French-language national television), receiving second prize, but also carrying o the viewers prize with an absolute majority. Throughout the competition s various trials, the commentaries on his performances were characterised time and again by the leitmotif I have never heard the accordion played like that . Over and above his great technical command and astonishingly rich poetic style, Christophe revealed to the wider public a repertoire that few would have imagined on the accordion, including classical pieces written for the

instrument - and notably the Concerto n 1 by Nicola Tchaikin, which he performed with the RTBF symphonic orchestra in the competition s nal round. The following year, he represented Belgium in the fth Eurovision young musicians competition, held in Vienna where his performance with the Austrian Radio Orchestra in the mythical Musikverein concert hall was broadcast live by 23 television channels. Since 2004, he has been a founding member of the ASTORIA ensemble, who specialise in the music of Astor Piazzolla. ASTORIA s fourth album is

planned for the end of 2012. With ASTORIA and with his duos HABANERA (Marc Grauwels on ute), RUBATO (Isabelle Chardon on violin) and BAYAN (Philippe Hacardiaux on accordion),he has taken part in numerous television and radio broadcasts, recorded several albums and performed regularly on the Belgian and international scene. 1991 marked his rst collaboration with the Belgian Communaut Franaise s music outreach programme Jeunesses Musicales, with a show based on the work of Swiss author Blaise Cendrars. Today, ASTORIA is a regular xture in Jeunesse Musicale s calendar, while Cristophe s Frenchlanguage music/theatre duo LES MISERABLES is programmed for the 20122013 season. On another note, Christophe has accompanied numerous renowned artists on stage, such as Henri Ds or Jean-Marc Thibault. He has accompanied veteran singer/actress Annie Cordy since 1998 and was named her regular music director in 2011. He has recorded for these same artists, as well as others including Renaud, Vaya Con Dios, Frank Michael, Line Adam and Jofroi. In the area of contemporary classical music, Christophe is permanent accordionist for the ensemble Musiques Nouvelles, participating notably in premire performances of Kilda (l'le aux oiseaux), "Les Aveugles (Daan JANSSENS), EGANe (Ramon Lazkano) and "Requiem" (Pierre Bartholome). Christophe has been invited several times by the Orchestre National de

Belgique, both to perform music by Astor Piazzolla and to give the premire performance of Jean-Marie Rens Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra, in the framework of the contemporary music festival Ars Musica. For 2014, he has been invited to perform The Seven Last Words of Christ by Soa Gubaidulina. Christophe Delporte is currently professor of accordion and solfge at the Institut Suprieur de Musique et de Pdagogie (I.M.E.P.) in Namur.

Selected Repertoire
P KREISLER J MASSENET C SAINT-SANS F SCHUBERT F CHOPIN Prelude and allegro, Liebesleid, Valse n 3 meditation Thas Rondo Capriccioso Av Maria Nocturne

L BOCCHERINI P TCHAKOVSKI J.S.BACH A PIAZZOLLA

MEDLEY(s):

Menuet sentimental waltz La Sicilienne, Aria The history of tango Oblivion Libertango Muerte del angel Brel, Klezmer, Russian Folklore, Paris, Film Music

Technical
If the acoustical conditions necessitate sound reinforcement, any possible sound reinforcement arrangements for the concert will be borne by the organiser (diusion system, returns, mixing desk, microphone with microphone stand for the accordion)

Christophe DELPORTE +32/(0)495 24 09 15 E-Mail : jmusiciens@me.com

Contacts