The Labèque sisters will present Amoria at the Philharmonie de Paris

Pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque will present the Amoria project tomorrow, April 5^th, at the Philharmonie de Paris. This work by the duo from northern Basque Country city of Bayonne explores the history of Basque music over the past 500 years.

Pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque will present the Amoria project tomorrow, April 5^th, at the Philharmonie de Paris. This work by the duo from northern Basque Country city of Bayonne explores the history of Basque music over the past 500 years. The Labèque sisters will be joined by prominent Basque musicians including countertenor Carlos Mena from Vitorian and the Hegiak quintet, comprising Eñaut Elorrieta, Thierry Biscary, txalaparta players Harkaitz Martínez de San Vicente and Mikel Ugarte, and percussionist Ander Zulaika.

In August 2018 the Labèque sisters released the album Amoria under the Deutsche Grammophon Records, the world’s longest-standing active record label, now a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. After a few premiere concerts, they will present their work at the Parisian Cité de la Musique.

Although the Labèque sisters moved to Paris to further their musical career, they haven’t forgotten their Basque roots, in part thanks to Thierry Biscary. Biscary has analyzed the repertoire of Basque composers throughout the centuries in the Basque music archive Eresbil, located in the town of Errenteria (Gipuzkoa). The txalaparta player and singer from Lower Navarre, with the help of the foundation director Jon Bagües, has made a selection that mixes academic and popular music.

When they met Biscary, the Labèques decided to join this project. A variety of composers influenced the music featured on Amoria, ranging from the Renaissance Joanes Antxieta to the contemporary Alberto Iglesias, to Pedro Sarasate, Aita Donostia, Jesus Guridi and Gabriel Olaizola.