Levante guitar duo performs unique repertoire of Vojislav's music specially written for the duo, or arranged from his solo guitar pieces, orchestral pieces or music composed for his fusion band “Levantina”. Within the tonal world of classical guitar and its heritage this music is open to a wide array of influences of musical styles and cultures much like "Levantine" (Balkan and surroundings) spirit is a mixture of cultures and musical expressions. It is all-trough composed but at times improvised...
Apart from “Originals” the duo performs Vojislav’s "impressions" rather than arrangements upon selected jazz but also, traditional or "classical" standards.
The duo’s musical journey started in 2008 and from 2009 they perform regularly on concert stage. Except Vojislav’s original compositions the duo performs his arrangements-impressions of works by: Th. Monk, B. Evans, M. Davis, P. Metheny, J. S. Bach, and works by D. Bogdanovic and G. Biberian.
“...keen intelligence allied to a refreshing musical sensibility...” (“Classical Guitar” London )
Vojislav Ivanovic (Sarajevo former Yugoslavia-Bosnia) obtained highest academic degrees in Classical Guitar at Athens Conservatory with C. Cotsiolis (awarded 1st class B. Mus. 1986) and Composition at University of Sarajevo with V. Komadina (awarded M. Mus. with distinction 1991).
Both as a guitarist and a composer he was awarded various international prizes and distinctions.
His diverse compositional output includes music for solo and accompanied instruments (guitar, cello, piano, flute, vocal etc.), choral and orchestral works, string quartet, piano and guitar concerto (“English Concerto), songs etc. His “6 Pieces de Cafe” for solo guitar .amongst others, seem to have won a particular acclaim by the audiences and guitarists world-wide. Also he wrote radiophonic music, music for film (2nd prize in Oberhausen film Festival, “Prix d’Italia” 1991 in Palermo international short/meter film festival), theatre and TV.
His continuos interest, both as a composer and a performer, in traditional, improvised and jazz music begins with founding of the "Levantine Jazz Trio" with pianist and composer Milos Petrovic and percussionist Veljko Nikolic. It continues with founding “Levantina” band with drummer Srdjan Ivanovic and bassist Iotis Kiourtsoglou, collaborating with many musicians, notably sax players Dimitris Tsakas and David Lynch.He has played and recorded with some world renown musicians such as: singer Savvina Iannatou, double-bass player Arild Andersen, saxophonist Bendik Hofseth, drummer Paul Vertico (ex Pat Metheny band) trumpetist Paolo Fresu and others.
Young and exceptionally gifted guitarist (Belgrade, Serbia) Aleksandra started playing piano at the age of six and after graduating she studied jazz singing for a while but eventually turned to classical guitar. She won several national and international competitions amongst which are Niksic international guitar Festival 2006, Guitar-Art summer fest,Herceg Novi 2007, and has been noted by audiences and critics alike, for her delicate and emotional performing. Lately she has won particular acclaim for the performances of new works by Vojislav for solo guitar which led to foundation of Levante Guitar Duo.
Levante Guitar Duo plays Pavlos Gypas spruce guitars.
Levante Guitar Duo plays Hannabach strings
Design IP Plus Studio, Photo El Gvojos
