Duo Pleyel Concert Beneath the Swan
Come to Duo Pleyel's first concert featuring young talent! On Sunday, March 22nd at 4:00 PM, you'll hear a special concert based on the exhibition 'Under the Swan' with young cellist Odilie Celano (born in 2010)! Mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj will also sing a few songs. Will we see you at this first concert in the Duo Pleyel series?
What does the swan say?
Explore the theme of the swan in (classical) music. This concert takes you on a musical journey from the 16th century to the 20th century, featuring various pieces inspired by the swan.
From Dietriech Buxtehude to Maurice Ravel, many composers have been inspired by this graceful animal. Which pieces were you already familiar with, and which are new? Find out during the concert featuring young talent and renowned mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj!
Buy your tickets via this link!
Practical information about the concert:
The concert starts at 4:00 PM in the church hall of the Luther Museum. Space is limited, so be quick!
Tickets:
- €18 for adults
- €10 for students (upon presentation of student card)
- €8 for children between 8 and 18
Address: Nieuwe Keizersgracht 570. Right between the Weesperplein and Waterlooplein metro stops (lines 51, 53, and 54) and near the Artis/Holocaus Museum tram stop (line 14) or 's Gravesandestraat (lines 1, 7, and 19).
What is Duo Pleyel?
Duo Pleyel, named after their magnificent 1848 Pleyel piano, consists of pianists Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya and Richard Egarr. For nine years, the duo has been dedicated to making the rich and captivating four-handed piano repertoire accessible to a wider audience. They are particularly committed to offering varied programs, ranging from the earliest music of Johann Christian Bach and Mozart, and lesser-known early Romantics such as Hummel and Dussek, to the great popular works of Fauré, Debussy, Ravel, and Stravinsky from the twentieth century.
Duo Pleyel records for LINN/Outhere Records, and their releases of Schubert, Dussek, J.C. Bach, and Mozart have received rave international reviews. Their latest recording, "Yuletide Treats," was named BBC Music Magazine's Instrumental Recording of the Month in December 2024, with the description "Piano treats that go straight to the heart." The recording is a true musical feast for the Christmas season, featuring, among other works, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and Strauss's Blue Danube. Their project to record the complete Beethoven symphonies in extraordinary four-hand arrangements by his underrated pupil Carl Czerny began in 2023. Symphonies 1 through 8 have already been recorded! Symphony 9 will be recorded in October 2026 to complete the cycle, scheduled for release in the spring of 2027. These transcriptions are fascinating and of immense importance, both from a historical and musicological perspective, as well as from a purely musical perspective.
Duo Pleyel is honored and excited to collaborate with the Chris Maene Piano Collection and will be using some of the fantastic 19th-century instruments from this collection.
Who is Odilie Celano?
Odilie Elinoor Celano (born in 2010) began cello lessons at the age of three with her mother, Florien Hamer. Since age ten, she has been taking lessons with Monique Heidema, and since age eleven, she has been studying at the Sweelinck Academy of the Amsterdam Conservatory . At thirteen, she was nominated for the Bunschoten Young Talent Award at the Grachtenfestival. In the winter of 2024, she participated in the Young Talent Concert during the Winter Evenings on the Amstel Festival.
In 2025, Odilie won 3rd prize in the West 2 regional final of the Princess Christina Competition, 1st prize at the Maassluis Young Talent Competition, and shared 1st prize at the Britten Cello Competition. In May 2025, she performed as a soloist with the Britten Youth String Orchestra and gave a concert at the Muziekgebouw a/h IJ in Amsterdam. In April 2026, Odilie will tour as a soloist with the Kennemer Youth Orchestra.
On January 11, 2026, she was featured as a Young Hero on the NPO program "Podium Klassiek." Odilie regularly performs with pianists Pau Hernández Alenyar and Charlie Bo Meijering.
Who is Barbara Kozelj?
Slovenian mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj has established herself as a charismatic and
exceptionally versatile artist. Her voice and performances are praised as “breathtaking
beautiful,” “deep and powerful,” “stunning,” and “straight from the heart.” She is a sought-after soloist at the major international concert and opera stages.
After her debut with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and her appearances at Carnegie Hall and the BBC Proms with Iván Fischer, her career gained momentum. She has sung leading roles at opera houses in Leipzig, Essen, Bonn, and Amsterdam. Highlights include her performances of Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier) and Mélisande (Pelléas et Mélisande) with the Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra under Jun Märkl in Taipei; Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde) at the Leipzig Opera House and the Teatro dela Maestranza in Seville; Judith (Bluebeard's Castle) with the National Youth Orchestra with Antony Hermus; and Penelope (Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria) under Richard Egarr at the Barbican Hall in London.
Barbara is also a sought-after concert soloist, performing with some of the world's most renowned conductors and orchestras. This season, she returns to Wigmore Hall in London for performances of Mahler & Zemlinsky Liederen and Schönberg's Pierrot Lunaire with Klangforum Wien, and later in the season for Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde with Camerata RCO.
She has a strong affinity for Lieder and regularly gives recitals with Thomas Beijer, Julius Drake, Richard Egarr, Nino Gvetadze, and Phyllis Ferwerda. Throughout her career, she has been guided by her mentor and vocal coach Sasja Hunnego.
I can't attend the concert on March 22nd, what can I do?
It's a shame you can't make it on March 22nd. Luckily, we have five other concerts in the same series! You could, for example, come to one of the following Sunday afternoons:
- Sunday afternoon, May 24
- Sunday afternoon, July 5
- Sunday afternoon, September 6
- Sunday afternoon, October 18
- Sunday afternoon, December 5th
You are very welcome to attend one of the concerts!
