ABOUT
"...With performances that are poised, lyrical and flawless in execution, the interplay between the two seems almost telepathic."
(Scott Collins, "Guitar Muse")
LEVANTE DUO plays Pavlos Gypas guitars,
Hannabach Strings, Exclusive HT Set and Silver 200 MHT Set and travels with
IKA Hard Cases.
LEVANTE GUITAR DUO – Aleksandra and Vojislav Ivanovic
The Duo performs unique repertoire of Vojislav’s original music and arrangements – impressions of jazz, traditional and classical “standards” specially written for the duo. It is all-trough composed but at times improvised. Within the tonal world of classical guitar and its heritage this music exploits influences of diverse musical styles, both from the east and the west, creating new “Levantine” entity.
The duo’s musical journey started in 2008 and since then they appeared in distinguished concert halls and festivals in Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia. Their CD “Levantine Journey” gained raving critics and enthusiastic reception by the audience of music lovers and professionals alike. Duo’s career culminated in exceptional success during their three extensive tours in US in 2019/2020 season scoring standing ovations in numerous American concert halls, universities and guitar societies.
“It was a real pleasure to hear such a rare combination of factors: an accomplished guitar duo, Aleksandra and Vojislav Ivanovic, including the composer of practically the entire program, lovingly performed in a totally involved share of lovely sounds and in an admirable ensemble, through an array of musical styles, from jazz to typical Balkan dance forms, passing through the most famous choral by Bach! All this done with impeccably personal taste. Bravo duo Levante!”
Oscar Ghiglia
“Attractive, minimalistic, authentic music that greatly interacts with Balkan music heritage and jazz passages of one John McLaughlin. Vojislav and Aleksandra have radiant appearance and their music can be described as a mixture of post-modern byzantine ambient music and serious homage to the giants of jazz, such as Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. “
Aleksandar S. Jankovic , City Magazine
“…works of the original and innovative approach in which subtle clarity of classical music, baroque polyphony and spontaneous improvisational freedom of jazz alternate and intermingle in a truly unique way.”
“Dnevnik” Novi Sad
“…all of a sudden, notes of unheard and pristine beauty came from both artists through Vojislav’s original music… Famous themes from Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker were quoted and elaborated in their own way. Where else could one hear an Arabic Bossa nova or a musical train – ride with stops in Serbian villages or a modern BACH fugue that, indeed, has a baroque structure. What a successful evening! Each second was filled with the musical beauty and the freedom of the soul. A mesmerizing concert!”
“Dreiklang” Magazine, Meckenheim, Germany
“The Music they perform calls for extraordinary artists, highly technically skilled and at the same time open to new practices, foreign to classical concert performance, such as improvisation.”
Aleksandra Paladin, Muzika Klasika Magazine
VOJISLAV IVANOVIC, guitarist/composer
“…keen intelligence allied to a refreshing musical sensibility…”
(Colin Cooper, Classical Guitar Magazine, London)
“… Balanced energy coupled with the depth of musical thought and extraordinary sense for improvisation leaves a dilemma if he is a jazz guitarist entering the realm of classical music or a classical guitarist flirting with Jazz.”
(“Etnoumlje”, Belgrade World Music Magazine)
Music of Vojislav Ivanovic, composer and guitarist, is one of astonishing diversity, ranging from contemporary classical and jazz thru fusion and rock to traditional music of the world.
Born in Sarajevo where he started playing guitar at the age of 10, Vojislav acquired highest academic degrees both in guitar at the Athens Conservatory with Costas Cotsiolis and in composition at the University of Sarajevo with Vojin Komadina.
From the early 1980s he performs regularly both home and abroad, solo and with orchestras including Trinity College Strings (UK), St. George Strings, Camerata Serbica and Macedonia Jeunesse Musicale Symphonic.
His diverse compositional output includes music for solo and accompanied instruments, choral, chamber and orchestral works. Distinguished guitarists such as Zoran Dukic and Denis Azabagic, as well as many other artists have performed his music extensively all
over the globe and orchestras that have performed his music include New Russia Symphony – Yuri Bashmet, Zagreb Soloists, Vienna Pons Artis Orchestra and the Tijuana Festival Orchestra.
As a film composer Vojislav has several documentaries and feature films to his credit out of which “Halda” (1991) won prestigious “Prix d’Italia” award.
He has also recorded with some world renownd Jazz musicians: double-bass player Arild Andersen, saxophonist Bendik Hofseth, drummer Paul Vertico (ex Pat Metheny group) and trumpetist Paolo Fresu.
In 2008 he founded Levante Guitar Duo with his wife Aleksandra Ivanovic. who accompanies Vojislav in a program that includes works specially written for the Duo. They have appeared all over Europe and USA and have released their highly praised CD “Levantine Journey” (GAF 2011). Duo’s American debut is due with extensive tours throughout 2019/2020.
In addition to his performance tours, composing and recording, Vojislav Ivanovic is highly sought after for his teaching and master classes in composition and guitar and is a member of juries at international festivals and competitions.
The prestigious publishers Chanterelle Zimmerman and Doberman Yppan are publishing his music.
In addition to his own releases various artists have released over 20 CDS world-wide over the years that include his works.
www.vojislavivanovic.com
ALEKSANDRA IVANOVIC, guitarist
“…truly unique voice of Aleksandra Ivanovic…”
(M.Ramicevic, Sarajevo)
Born in Belgrade, Aleksandra showed early and diverse talent for music. She started learning piano at the age of six and eventually graduated both piano and classical singing from the primary music school. After short studies in Jazz singing her interest turned to guitar and she continued her studies in classical guitar at the Belgrade Music Academy under professor Vera Ogrizovic, where she obtained BA and Master degree in guitar performance with distinction. In addition, she participated in numerous master classes with renowned guitarists such as Anielo Desiderio, Scot Tennant and Dusan Bogdanovic.
She won several national and international competitions amongst which are “Naissus Guitar Festival” 2009 and 2010, “International Guitar Festival” Leskovac 2006 and 2007 and “Guitar Art Summer Fest” Herceg Novi 2008. Also, she was recipient of a prestigious grant for young talents of Serbia in 2011 and 2012.
Aleksandra started performing at an early age and had significant appearances in Gallery “Progres” Hall, Cultural center “Vuk Karadzic”, Yugoslav Drama Theatre and Music Academy Hall. Noted by audiences and critics, her delicate and sensitive performance, especially of the new works by Vojislav Ivanovic led to the foundation of “Levante Guitar Duo” with the composer himself.
Since 2008 she performs and records with the duo extensively both home and abroad earning reputation, as critics put it, of “…individual and unique voice” of the ensemble.
