Art Base

Maud Laforest & Benjamin Beirs

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Paulo Bellinati, César Franck, Antoine de L’Hoyer, Scott Joplin, Yann Tiersen, Francis Poulenc, Astor Piazzolla.
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Formed in 2002, Duo Transatlantique combines the prize-winning talents of guitarists Benjamin Beirs and Maud Laforest. Soon after beginning their studies at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, the two decided to form a guitar duo, under the guidance of Julian Gray, an acclaimed chamber musician and founder of the Gray-Pearl guitar duo.  In 2005, Ben embarked on his first journey to France, where the duo won first prize in the Union Française des Artistes Musiciens Guitar Duo Competition and played a concert in the American Cathedral in Paris. Since then, they have continued touring annually. Currently, Ms. Laforest lives in Reims, France, while Mr. Beirs has stayed in Baltimore.
Their newly-released second album is entitled “From Moment to Moment.” It features arrangements of the French film score “Amelie” by Yann Tiersen and includes music by Penicaud, Joplin, Bellinati, Scarlatti, L'Hoyer, and Franck. The French magazine Guitare Classique writes, “The sonority is rich and one of the most flattering we’ve ever heard...”  MusicWeb International wrote in a recent review, “Their ten years together has evidently given them an intimate understanding of each other's technique and phraseology, and together they radiate a listener-pleasing authority and enjoyment." Their debut album, entitled "Le Gris et le Vert" (The Grey and the Green) includes music of Debussy, Scarlatti, Petit, Albeniz, and Villoldo.
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http://www.duotransatlantique.com
http://www.youtube.com/transatlantiqueduo

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