Mirea & I

It was the Spring of 2016 and the “Nova et vetera” CD project was beginning to materialize: the first compositions had been written, the Basseurope festival in Prague was closing in and I didn’t have a pianist. It is not easy to find a pianist: they are either lost between Chopin and Liszt, dreaming of a soloist career or have an incredibly busy schedule.

And even then, who has time to waste with a double bass player? With his unusual repertoire and few or no concerts?

Mirea’s name was mentioned to me by my wife, my life’s fortune and salvation. She told me her colleague had a daughter who was an extremely talented pianist and was studying for her graduation; so her schedule couldn’t be completely full. She also appeared to be pleased at the idea of performing in duo formation instead of concentrating exclusively on Transcendental Études and Concertos. This, also thanks to her mother, an Albanian pianist who believed that it was important for her daughter’s musical training to be able to accompany another instrument. Just think! How peculiar…

That’s how we met. We started recording the CD and then introductory concerts ensued. We gave performances for the Amici della Musica of Catania and Gela, the Società dei Concerti of Noto and the Eliodoro Sollima association of Palermo. We also performed at the Biennial Double Bass Congress in Prague in 2016.