Accordionissimo
Wednesday 29 May, 7.30pm
St Thomas Church, Lymington
Programme TBA
We’re thrilled to have the incredible accordionist Djordje Gajic back at the festival. People are still talking about his last appearance. In this programme he will also be joined by another friend of the festival, soprano Ilona Domnich. Their varied programme will include cabaret and klezmer music.
Djordje Gajic, accordion
Ilona Domnich, soprano
Djordje Gajic
Djordje Gajic began his musical studies in Serbia at the age of six, finally graduating from the Russian Academy of Music in 1993 with a Master of Music degree and the Honorary Title of Solo Performer.He continued his post-graduate studies at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music and was appointed Assistant to Professor Yuri Dranga.
As an international prize winner Djordje has won 1st prizes at:
1985 – 2ndConcorso Internazionale“Trofeo G. D’Annunzio ,Pescara, Italy;1986 -Concorso Internazionale Di Musica“Per I Giovani”,Stresa, Italy;1986 -11th Concorso Internazionale Di Fisarmonica,Camalo, Italy;1987 -Grand PrixInternational’d’AccordodeSt-Etienne, France;1987 – International Accordion Competition“Prva HarmonikaYugoslavie”,SoloBana, Serbia;1987 -12th Concorso Internazionale Di Fisarmonica,Camalo, Italy;1988 – 38th CMA World Championship“ Confederation Mondiale DeL’accordion, Fontainebleau, France and 2nd prizes at1988 – 25 thInternationaler Akkordeonwettbewerb, Klingeltal, Germany and1994 – International Accordion Competition“Kubok Severa” Cheraparvetz Russia. Following his phenomenal success on the international platform Djordje received a number of prestigious awards which led to television and radio broadcasts for the BBC, RTS Serbia, RTR Russia and RAI Italy.
Djordje has performed with several acclaimed orchestras and ensembles including the Russian State Symphony Orchestra (under the baton of Yvgeny Svetlanov), Royal Scottish National Orchestra,BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra (BBC Proms, London), the Fibonacci Sequence Ensemble, Locrian Ensemble, Research Ensemble and Hebrides Ensemble, et al.He is a prolific recitalist throughout Europe (Andorra, Holland, France, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Italy, Malta, Norway and Britain) and also in Australia, Russia, Bahrain and Tunisia.
Since arriving in Britain Djordje has given solo recitals across the United Kingdom and performed at many of the international music festivals including: Darlington, Norwich, Salisbury, Buxton , Birmingham.
Djordje currently teaches at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Edinburgh University, Douglas Academy and St.Mary’s Music School. He gives masterclasses in the UK, Italy, Germany, China, Serbia and Russia, and is frequently invited to sit on the jury for international competitions. In 1988 heco-founded the International Summer School and Competitions in Kragujevac, Serbia, and in 2013 started Scotland’s first international summer school for classical accordion at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.He regularly participates in seminars and workshops for composers, and promotes classical accordion in schools, universities and festivals.Djordje performs as a soloist and in duo AdLibitum with the violinist Andrea Gajic.
Ilona Domnich
Ilona’s latest operatic role is Tosca. She has been touring UK, Chanel Islands, France and South Africa ‘…The Tosca of Ilona Domnich is a real revelation. Dramatically flamboyant, vocally volcanic but using an admirably mastered musicality, phrasing with emotion the famous, and awaited, prayer of the second act, she is a Floria Tosca worthy of the best stages. A true dramatic soprano, she shows incredible power against Scarpia.’ Classic Toulouse 2022
Ilona’s next adventure is ‘Queens and Goddesses’ reclaiming of the divine woman. Through Bel Canto heroines, this project will celebrate all women’s inner Goddesses (their inner archetypes) and the emerging of wise Queens reborn from the ashes of the past experiences.
Ilona’s latest creation is a video ‘The Hope – Hatikvah’, a unique arrangement by Charles Mutter, this music video is a tribute to the tragic events of October 7th, an expression of support for Israel and Jewish communities around the world. It is an open condemnation of Antisemitism, hate speech and discrimination of Jewish people.
Ilona Domnich is a lyric soprano, described by Opera Now as” A memorable voice of silken beauty with a luminous edge to the tone, a sensitive musician and an actress of magnetic presence” and was chosen by Opera Now as one of the magazine’s Top 10 high flyers,” a new generation of sopranos who are having impressive careers”. Ilona Domnich was highlighted as ‘artist of the month’ in Opera magazine and is the Daily Telegraph’s choice of ‘best British-based talent’.
Ilona Domnich first came to the attention of legendary singing teacher, Vera Rosza during a masterclass. She went on to win the prestigious Wingate scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music and since those early days has gained a formidable international reputation for daring and excellence on stage. Her teachers and mentors have included Vera Rosza, Thomas Helmsley, Enid Hartle, Janis Kelly, Joan Rodgers, Susan Roberts, Montserrat Caballe, Ludmilla Andrew, Donald Maxwell, Anthony Legge and Catherine Rodgers Wayne Rogers.
Ilona Domnich’s operatic highlights include Tosca, Tatiana (Onegin), Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Mimi (La Boheme), Glauce (Medea), Melisande (Pelleas et Melisande), Magda (La Rondine), Gilda (Rigoletto), Olympia/Antonia/Giulietta (Tales of Hoffmann), Jacqueline (Fortunio), Elle (La Voix Humaine), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Eurydice (Der neue Orpheus), Venus (Judgement of Paris), Madam Herz (Der Schauspieldirektor), Blondchen (Die Entfhrung aus dem Serail).
Ms Domnich has worked in close collaboration with English National Opera, BBC Concert Orchestra, Grange Park Opera, Buxton Opera Festival, English Touring Opera, Northern Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia, Festival de Musique de Menton, Trasimeno Music Festival and Anghiari in Italy, Chopin festival in Mallorca, Aldeburgh festival, London Song Festival, the Chelsea Schubert Festival, North Norfolk and the Jersey International Festival as well as the Perth, Rye, Mayfield and Newbury Spring festivals. She has appeared in concerts in London at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Barbican, Westminster Cathedral, St. Johns Smith Square and St. Martin in the Fields and has sung internationally in Paris, Menton, Segura, Vézère, Cormailles, Rome, St. Petersburg, Jerusalem, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Dubai and Beirut.
Ilona’s fruitful collaboration with Simon Over led to many concerts and opera productions, including singing Poulenc’s Gloria at Notre dame de Paris and Brahms Requiem at Westminster Cathedral, as well as a recording of an Operatic CD ‘Surrender’ together with baritone Leo Nucci, Southbank Sinfonia – available on Signum Classics.
Another long-term collaboration performing in concerts, festivals and recording with conductor Martin Yates brought the recordings for Dutton Vocalion of score to ‘Scott of the Antarctic’ by R. Vaughan Williams, ‘Rout’ by Sir Arthur Bliss, ‘Mystic trumpeter’ by Gustav Holst ‘The Future’ by R. Vaughan Williams with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
She has another strong connection to the orchestra of St. Johns under the baton of John Lubbock OBE, with whom she has performed in concert in a whole range of repertoire, ranging from early music to the late Romantics in song via oratorio and opera. Ilona’s next performance with John is Strauss Four last songs, Brahms Requiem and scenes from La Traviata.
Ilona Domnich is also featured on the Toccata Classics label in songs with orchestra by Michael Csanyi-Wills, on OSJ Alive in Faure Songs, on FHR in chamber works by Shostakovich, on Quartz in ‘Le secret – Love songs and arias’ and on Naxos in the world premiere recording of Timothy Hamilton’s Requiem.
In October 2019, Ms Domnich was invited by acclaimed German violinist, Linus Roth to take part in the inaugural Weinberg focus event to be held at Wigmore Hall. Curated by Roth, the events featured a selection of the composer’s vocal and chamber music in the centenary year of his birth. Roth has since invited Ms Domnich to perform at his Shostakovich Days at the Gohrisch Festival in Germany 2020 and Schwaebischer Fruehling festival 2021, where he is the Artistic Director. There concert at the Wigmore Hall from the 30th September 2023 is available on YouTube.
Always inventive and keen to explore new directions, Ilona Domnich has also developed and performed a one-woman cabaret-style show, ‘Voix du cabaret’, based on songs sung by Marlene Dietrich, Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf, directed by James Bonas. This show grew into ‘Voix du cabaret encore’ and included West End dancers.
In summer 2021 Ilona started an open-air music concert series by the lake in Hadley woods, Barnet, introducing an internationally acclaimed musician, bringing the local community together in nature with beautiful music. Ilona was pleased to learn that a percentage of her audience were introduced to classical music for the first time in their lives. 2024 will be ‘Music by jack’s Lake’ 4th successful year.
Another string to Ilona’s bow is ‘Voice coaching for leader’, since 2018 Ilona has been coaching High achieving executive directors, CEO, women entrepreneurs and in senior positions. She coaches voice for higher impact and authentic performance.
Parallel to her singing career Ilona has been a singing teacher. Her students received music scholarships, work in music industry, sing in operas and choirs. She has prepared many to successfully enter Purcell School and the Guildhall. Ilona is a respected teacher with more than 20 years of experience.
