Prize winners of numerous competitions and developing an excellent career, Duo Khojayan/Poortinga is one of the most proficient violin piano duos of their generation.
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“They know how to move the public, thanks to the charming mix of talent, musical sensibility, highest technique and unbelievable entente they offer. The perfect performance of their wide and varied repertory makes each of their concerts an unforgettable event!”
Amici Per La Musica’ Turin 2022
After touring in United States with the integral violin piano sonatas of Beethoven 2016, violinist Meri Khojayan and her duo-partner pianist Robert Poortinga started to play many recitals in The Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Spain. Their repertoire includes all the major works written for violin and piano which spans from the baroque to the contemporary era.
Some of the recent prizes are: Grand prix from Baden Württemberg’s chamber music competition held in Germany. First prize in Luigi Nono Chamber music competition, one of the most prestigious chamber-music competitions of Italy.
They were invited multiple times to Maine (USA) for “Music Without Borders International Music Festival”.
Since 2018 The Duo participates annually in ‘Musica d’Estate festival’ taking place in the Alps of Piedmont.
In the Summer of 2021 the duo performed Mendelssohn’s double concerto in Weimar with Jena Philharmonic Orchestra.
As a duo they studied for 4 years with Lukas Hagen and Enrico Pace. Both together and alone they also had lessons from Leonidas Kavakos, Trio di Parma, Pavel Gililov, Wim Zwaag, Jaques Ogg (historically inspired performance), Vladimir Tropp, Konstantin Bogino, Jeroen Riemsdijk, Maxim Vengerov, Michael Frischenschlager, Irina Bochkova, Zakhar Bron, Boris Belkin, Ana Chumachenco and Enrico Bronzi.
The duo filmed a Biographical documentary about Pablo Sarasate, where they both played, shot and directed. The film took the attention of international press, such as “Codalario”, “Diario de Navarra”, “The Violin Channel”, “Mundo Classico” etc. As well the attention of international film festivals. The highlight of it was the “Film Flicks Festival” held in London (UK) where the documentary won “the best biographical film”title.
In 2022 the duo signed an exclusive record contract with Aliud Records. The release of all the violin/piano works by Sergei Prokofiev (both Sonatas and 5 melodies) is planned for May of 2023.
