Concert schedule​
Bergen (Grieg hall)
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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Balestrand (Kviknes Hotel)
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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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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 + Dubinha
Thursday 09th October 2025 - Peer Gynt hall (Grieg hall, Bergen)
Brazilian Evening
Join us for a vibrant and heartfelt evening of Brazilian music, featuring the extraordinary guitarist Mario Ulloa, whose deep connection to Latin American musical traditions shines through every note. Originally from Costa Rica and now based in Salvador, Brazil, Mario brings decades of experience, sensitivity, and virtuosic skill to the stage.
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Mario will be joined by his daughter Beatriz, a talented singer, whose voice adds warmth and intimacy to this family collaboration.
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The evening also includes a special appearance by Dubinha, a brilliant interpreter of Brazilian guitar music and an artist deeply rooted in the country’s rich musical culture. His playing blends authenticity, joy, and depth in a way that only a true master can deliver.
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This will be an unforgettable evening filled with rhythm, melody, and connection — a celebration of Brazilian spirit through the hands and voices of three remarkable artists.
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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
