Elara Duo
Dona Nouné - violin / Cima Moussalli - piano
An International Musical Journey - Grieg to Bartók
Amy Beach (1867-1944): USA
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): Norway
Boghos Gelalian (1927-2011): Lebanon
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918): France
Joachín Turina (1882-1949): Spain
Béla Bartók (1881-1945): Hungary
Cima Moussalli
graduated from the Lebanese National Music Conservatory and pursued her post-graduate studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, studying piano, chamber music and conducting, obtaining superior diplomas in all three fields. She attended many specialized masterclasses afterwards, in France, Spain and Hungary, studying with the Brazilian concert pianist Edson Elias, the French pianist Joan-Claude Pennetier and the Italian maestro Sergio Perticaroli.
Cima Moussalli performs as a concert pianist/soloist and chamber musician in France, at numerous concert halls, including : Salle Cortot, Salle Gaveau, The Unesco, The Moulin d'Andé (Normandy), as well as in Lille, Marseille, Clermont-Ferrand , collaborating with the Historical Monuments Caisse Nationale at the Rambouillet Castle, Sully's historical Hotel, and participating in many festivals including : Yvelines Festival, Musical Evenings at the Isle-Savary, the Musical Follies, as well as in Germany, Italy, Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Lebanon.
She is the pianist of several ensembles: Trio Sequana, Trio Arpeggio. "Les Voix Melées" and others, interpreting major works as well as unknown masterpieces and new creations. She also regularly plays and conducts the magnificent works of the women composers, of which: Mel Bonis, Cécile Chaminade, Lili Boulanger, collaborating with the Massy Opera orchestras (France), as a soloist also for Clara Schumann's piano concerto, and wlth The French Société NationaIe de Muslque and the "DensitéS" ensemble, playing works of living composers like Ivan Bellocq. Vincent Wimar, Sophie Lacaze and Régis Campo.
Musical partner of the Belgian pianist Philippe Verschaete since 2O12, founding the "Arlecchino Duo" for two pianos and four hands, she performed with various other brilliant musicians: the violinists Adam Banda, Istvan Szabo, Aban Zirikly and André Rebacz, the tenor Pierre Vaello, the bass singer Philippe Désandré and the mezzo-soprano Vera Nikolova.
Dona Nouné
Born and raised in Lebanon. Dona Nouné received her early education at the Chetham School of Music in Manchester, England, where playing under the baton of John Eliot Gardiner as concertmaster set her on a clear trajectory to becoming a professional musician. Subsequently, she studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she got her Master of Music Performance degree. Earlier, she was aIso awarded the Associate of the Royal College of Music Diplnma.
As a recitalist and chamber musician, Dona has performed in the United Kingdom as well as the United States. Prior to settling in the United Srates, she was a member of the Nürnberger Symphoniker in Germany for eight seasons. She has also played in the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Chicago Sinfonietta and most recently, as first violin of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. As part of the American Sinfonietta, she toured Germany and Austria, culminating in a performance at the Musikverein in Vienna. She has also played in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and collaborated with many of its principal players in chamber concerts, as well as playing in Carnegie Hall in New York City.
In 2019 Dona traveled to Beirut, Lebanon and played with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra. She participated in the Baalbek Festival and the Cedars Festival. In addition, she performed in a violin and Piano recital with Pianist Sylvia Wang at the Pierre y. AbouKhater Amphitheater in Ashrafieh.
A serious and devoted proponent of education, Dona continued her teaching career from the united Kingdom and Germany as a private teacher as well as a selected participant in the Dayton Philharmonic's Q the Music education program, inspired by El Sistema in Venezuela. In 2017 she joined the faculty at Stivers School for the Arts. In 2020 she became Professor of Violin at the University of Dayton in Ohio, USA. Her interest in teaching extends to her work with the Berlitz School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she has taught Arabic, English, German and French.
Together with pianist Georges Daccaches, Dona played a recital in the English Reformed Church in February 2024.
TICKETS: available at the door €18 / €12 - under 18 and students