“Encounters” with Rafael Montero, Tenor; Anastasiia Haisiuk, Piano

Rafael Montero & Anastasiia Haisiuk

On 4 October at 20:00 we present the programme "Encounters" with two outstanding musicians from Argentina and Ukraine. The programme is the result of an intercultural collaboration between two musicians from very different backgrounds and cultures. The concert will feature the world premiere of a new song cycle written for Rafael and Anastasiia by Irish-British composer Dominic McGonigal, based on indigenous Latin American texts discovered by Rafael. The concert will also include songs by European and Latin American composers, reflecting the influence of popular and indigenous traditions on the development of classical music.

At the end of the concert, there will be an opportunity for a dialogue between the performers and the audience on the general themes and questions raised by intercultural encounters.

October 4th, 2024, 8 p.m.

Reserve your seat here.

We accept donations for this concert and recommend a donation of €20, which will be given entirely to the artists.

World Premiere of “Dialog With Ancestors” by Dominic McGonigal

Composer’s notes:

Composer Dominic McGonigal

“Dialogues With Ancestors is the result of working with tenor Rafael Montero, a native Latin American who founded El Parnasso to celebrate indigenous South American music. Dialogues With Ancestors is a dialogue between pre-colonial South American culture and contemporary Europe. The song cycle, for tenor and piano, takes us from Nature, through Love, Loss and Justice to Peace. Eleven indigenous songs are the starting point for an evocative duo between tenor and piano, beginning with Wik'unita, marking the wild exuberance of the South American lama, ending with the beautiful serenity of Kkochus al Espíritu Santo. The climax comes with Kkochu al Machula de Tuana, the angry god who seeks vengeance, met with the powerful plainchant Dies Irae. Dialogues With Ancestors will be premiered in Cologne on 4 October 2024, by tenor Rafael Montero and Ukrainian pianist Anastasiia Haisiuk.“

Biographies

Rafael Montero (tenor)

Born in the Jujuy region of northern Argentina, Rafael Montero comes from an indigenous Andean family of the Kolla people, and was introduced by his family to traditional instruments, playing techniques and the shamanic rituals and festivals at which music is played to evoke harmonious connections between heaven and earth. He later studied singing as well as early and chamber music at the State Conservatory in Cordoba, Argentina. At the Conservatoire de Musique, specialising in Spanish and South American Baroque music of the Renaissance as well as in Romantic and contemporary music from Latin America.

Rafael has been living and working in Cologne since 2004 as a freelance singer, teacher, and coach.. In 2022 he completed the certificate course in music education for musicians from different cultures at the State Music Academy of North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2022 he was the artistic tandem partner of the Ukranian refugee Oleg Kolos, leader of the group Religimuz, facilitation and contributing to their recordings and concerts.He is also is the founder of early music ensemble El Parnaso Hyspano, (www.elparnasohyspano.com) which has given nearly 20 concerts since its UK launch in 2020, including European premieres of works of classical and baroque masters.

Anastasiia Haisiuk (piano)

Anastasia was born in Ukraine, Kamianets-Podilskyi. From 2011 to 2018, she studied at a choir school, learning the art of choral singing, vocal lessons, piano and music theory.

In 2018, she gained a place in the piano department of the Khmelnytskyi Music College. At the College she also studied solfeggio and harmony, as well as academic singing. She actively partcipated in concerts and was the initiator of many musical events herself.

Due to Russian aggression, she had to leave Ukraine for further studies abroad. She is currently studying in Germany at the Cologne University of Music and Dance in the piano department. She dreams and work to make Ukrainian music heard all over the world. In 2023 she began a partnership with Argentinian singer Rafael Montero, and their debut concert was in Cologne in October 2023. With Rafael, she is also a founder member of The 3G Ensemble, along with Iranian percussionist Mojtaba Faghihi.

This concert is possible thanks to the generous support of: