Michala Petri & Mahan Esfahani • UK:DK (CD)

During the height of the Greek economic crisis, the 13th International Pharos Chamber Music Festival on the island of Cyprus was in jeopardy of being cancelled due to the sudden loss of funding. Were it not for the passion and commitment of those artists who waived their performance fees, the festival would only be remember as another casualty of the austerity programs across Europe.

But for two of the artists, adversity fueled a performance so compelling, that English Music critic Norman Lebrecht would describe their recital as a “A match made in heaven.”

The artists from that now legendary concert were rising star of the harpsichord Mahan Esfahani and reigning queen of the recorder, Michala Petri. So successful was their collaboration, they immediately set about planning future recordings and recitals.

The idea for this album and its unusual programme immediately suggested itself: “Michala is a Dane and Mahan lives in UK!" explains producer Lars Hannibal. And what better way to showcase their talents than with music from their respective homelands?

Focusing exclusively on 20th repertoire – much of it composed especially for Michala, including a newly commissioned work from Daniel Kidane as well as CD premiers of works by Vagn Holmboe and Henning Christiansen – the duo offer a wide-ranging recital that fully exploits the expressive possibilities these two typically “Baroque” instruments offer contemporary composers.

Pieces featured:

- Sir Malcolm Arnold Sonatina Op. 41 (1962)
- Henning Christiansen It Is Spring Op. 56 (1970)
- Gordon Jacob Sonatina for recorder and harpsichord (1983)
- Vagn Holmboe Sonata Op. 145 (1980)
- Daniel Kidane Tourbillon (2014)
- Benjamin Britten Alpine Suite (1955)
- Axel Borup-Jørgensen Fantasia Op. 75 (1988)
- Gordon Jacob An Encore for Michala (1983)

Michala Petri recorder
Mahan Esfahani harpsichord