Concert schedule​
07 Oct Duo Aniello Desiderio & Zoran Dukic
08 Oct Double solo recital
Kristina Vårlid + Marko Topchii
09 Oct Brazilian evening
Mario & Beatriz Ulloa + Dubinha
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10 Oct Semifinal taigf 2025 Competition
10 Oct Mela Guitar Quartett
11 Oct FINAL taigf 2025 Competition
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Bergen (Grieg hall)
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Balestrand (Kviknes Hotel)
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Duo Aniello Desiderio & Zoran Dukic
Tuesday 07th October 2025 - Peer Gynt hall (Grieg hall, Bergen)
Aniello Desiderio and Zoran Dukić, both acclaimed classical guitarists, have been collaborating as a duo since the early 1990s. Their partnership has graced numerous European festivals and prestigious venues, including Barcelona's Palau de la Música.
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Their repertoire spans a diverse range of compositions, from Baroque transcriptions to contemporary works. Notably, they have performed adaptations such as Bach's Chaconne and pieces by Italian composers Domenico Scarlatti and Domenico Cimarosa. Their interpretations of Astor Piazzolla's Suite Troileana, arranged by Sérgio Assad, have been particularly well-received.
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In 2021, the duo released their album A & Z, featuring a selection of these works. Their synergy and technical mastery continue to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying their reputation as a leading guitar duo in the classical music scene.
Double solo recital:
Kristina Vårlid +
Marko Topchii
Wednesday 08th October 2025 - Peer Gynt hall (Grieg hall, Bergen)
Kristina Vårlid
Born in 1994 in Stavanger, Norway, Kristina Vårlid is an internationally acclaimed classical guitarist. She has received several prestigious awards, including first prize at the Antwerpen International Guitar Competition and the Koblenz International Guitar Academy Award. In 2017, she was named the best music student in the Netherlands after winning the Grachtenfestival Conservatorium Concours. Kristina is known for her innovative interpretations and her ability to explore the guitar's full sonic range. She currently teaches at the Prins Claus Conservatorium in Groningen and serves as Artistic Director of the Dutch Guitar Foundation.
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Marko Topchii
Born in 1991 in Kyiv, Ukraine, Marko Topchii began playing guitar at the age of four and quickly developed into one of the most decorated classical guitarists of his generation. He has won more than 100 international awards, including over 50 first prizes. His achievements include victories at the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition and the Michele Pittaluga International Classical Guitar Competition. In 2024, he became the inaugural winner of the Tino Andersen International Guitar Festival. Marko has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Salle Cortot, and his repertoire spans more than 15 concertos for guitar and orchestra.
Mario & Beatriz Ulloa + Duo Assad
Thursday 09th October 2025 - Peer Gynt hall (Grieg hall, Bergen)
Brazilian Evening
Get ready for a spectacular Brazilian celebration – an evening filled with passion, rhythm, and world-class music. This will be a vibrant, virtuosic and deeply joyful night in the Peer Gynt Hall, featuring some of the greatest names in Latin American music.
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The evening begins with guitarist Mario Ulloa and his daughter Beatriz, a vocalist whose voice fills every corner of the room with warmth and soul. Born in Costa Rica but based in Brazil for much of his life, Mario is one of the foremost interpreters of Brazilian and Latin American guitar traditions. Together with Beatriz, they create a moving and energetic musical encounter full of connection and expression.
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The highlight of the evening is the legendary Duo Assad – Sérgio and Odair – widely considered the most important guitar duo in history. With roots in both classical tradition and the rhythmic pulse of Brazil, they have captivated audiences for over five decades with their flawless technique and deep musical unity. The New York Times described their sound as “supple, flawlessly unified,” and they have collaborated with global icons such as Yo-Yo Ma, Gidon Kremer, and Astor Piazzolla.
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This may very well be their final tour – and their last performance in Norway was right here in Bergen during the inaugural TAIGF in 2024, where they received standing ovations and glowing reviews. Both Mario Ulloa and the Assad brothers also performed together in Bergen nearly 20 years ago during Tino Andersen’s earlier festival – and now, they return to make history once again.
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This will be more than a concert – it will be a reunion, a celebration, a joyful and heart-opening experience. A Brazilian evening to remember.
MÄ“la Guitar Quartet
Friday 10th October 2025 - Kviknes Hotel (Balestrand)
Winners of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America International Ensemble Competition 2023, the MÄ“la Guitar Quartet is known for its imaginative programming, ingenious arrangements, and dedication to expanding the guitar quartet repertoire through celebrated commissions and bold reinterpretations.
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Formed in 2015 by graduates of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music, MÄ“la quickly gained recognition as International Guitar Festival Young Artists and later as Park Lane Group artists and Royal Over-Seas League chamber music finalists. In 2023, Michael Butten and Zahrah Hutton joined founding members Matthew Robinson and George Tarlton, bringing a renewed energy and dynamic to the ensemble.
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Praised by Gramophone for their “collective technical brilliance and preternatural ensemble making,” MÄ“la has released three acclaimed albums: The Complete Guitar Quartets of Anthony Burgess and The Complete Guitar Chamber Works of Stephen Dodgson (both with Naxos), and the independently released Pluck, Strum, and Hammer!.
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Their performances have reached audiences at the Southbank Centre, Kings Place, Westminster Abbey, and internationally in China, Germany, and beyond. In 2025, they have toured the United States and Canada as part of their GFA prize.
Notable premieres include works by Laura Snowden, Michael Finnissy, and Stephen Goss — contributions that continue to shape the future of guitar quartet repertoire.
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More info: www.melagq.com
