The Folias Duo of Grand Rapids, featuring flutist Carmen Maret and guitarist Andrew Bergeron, will perform at Hope College on Friday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the John and Dede Howard Recital Hall at Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.
The Folias Duo was founded in 2003 by Maret and Bergeron, who are husband and wife. They combine their classical music training, experience as tango dancers and bandleaders, and love of Argentinian music legend Astor Piazzolla during their unique performances. They received critical acclaim for their five albums and have performed in concert halls, in clubs and for tango events in the United States, Europe and Argentina.
Folias’ 14-year performer-composer collaboration has produced CD releases featuring original compositions for flute and guitar, a focus on Argentine social tango dance music, and a passion for South American folk and other world music. Of Folias’ performing and composing, Robert Schulslaper of Fanfare Magazine wrote, “Carmen Maret and Andrew Bergeron are facile players… They draw on tango rhythms and melodies sometimes; at other times they write with a scenic sensitivity… mysterious… charming… evocative,” while Todd Gorman of American Record Guide called Folias, “daring in self-written music” and possessing “a nice touch of originality.”
As specialists in Argentine tango music, the Folias Duo has performed for milongas (events dedicated to tango dancing) in more than 40 communities throughout the world. As both musicians and dancers they work to continually cultivate camaraderie and communication between dancers and musicians in their musicality workshops, which have been featured by presenters such as the Albuquerque Tango Society, MTango at the University of Michigan, the Madison Tango Society, and festivals including the Fairbanks, Alaska Summer Arts Festival and the Atlin Music Festival in northern British Columbia.
Tickets for the performance are $10 for regular admission, $7 for senior citizens, and $5 for children and students, and are available at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at (616) 395-7890. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets.
The Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts is located at 221 Columbia Ave., between Ninth and 10th streets.