La Dolce Vita Duo performs for “receptive audience” in masterclass and live performance
By Josiah Horvath
The flute and guitar duo La Dolce Vita Duo taught a masterclass and performed in the Borland Center Recital Hall for an excited audience of Concordia students and community members on Jan. 31.
Students gave a “warm welcome” and were a “receptive audience that was really engaged” in the masterclass and performance, according to Lindsay Carr Barlett, who plays flute in the duo with guitarist Antonio Forgione. The masterclass in particular was “very receptive and very interactive,” she said.
The masterclass at 4 p.m. included a lecture on the general history of the duo’s ensembles as well as a brief performance. They also discussed “styles for playing, approaching, arranging, and writing for the instruments,” explained how they choose their repertoire, and answered several questions from students about technique, effects, and denotation.
Bartlett and Forgione played seven pieces at their 7 p.m. performance, including classical and modern music. The pieces were “Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 85” (1817) by Mauro Giuliani; Berceuse, “Op. 40” (1898) by Amy Beach; “Suite Habana” (2004) by Eduardo Martín; “Tomie’s Colors” (2021) by Clarice Assad; “Suite: Seven Moods” (2023) by David von Kampen; “Sonatina, Op. 205” (1965) by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco; and the unscheduled piece, “Oblivion” (1982) by Astor Piazzolla.
Barlett said that she and Forgione like to engage with the audience and break the imaginary wall between the performers and the audience, which the masterclass satisfied.
“It’s nice when we’re with an audience and a group that wants to engage,” she said.
Bartlett and Forgione were glad that Concordia hosted them, as it granted them another opportunity to practice. La Dolce Vita Duo is a new group, founded in 2023 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
“It’s very key for us so that we can perform and have the motivation,” said Forgione, “especially if the results and engaging with students is more fulfilling.”
Senior music major Kirsten Horne said she loved the performance’s variety of music and the unique combination of flute and guitar, which she found interesting. She said that she had never seen such a combination during her time at Concordia.
“I appreciated their selections because they ranged from very classical to jazz and jazz-inspired things. They had some modern selections [too],” she said. “But most things were very pleasing to the ear.”
