P R O F I L E
It is particularly their strong curiosity about the new creation and the desire to deepen the knowledge about the repertoire of the 20th century that led Alfian Emir Adytia and Kanako Abe to found this duo cello & piano. Javanese & Japanese musicians, both members are also composers, this duo born from their meeting in Indonesia in 2013 is focused on the creative side, seeking all the potential of the new sound that can be drawn from this combination of 2 instruments, without neglecting their Asian roots. In addition to 20th century masterpieces such as Debussy, Shostakovich, Piazzolla and Pärt, their repertoire is spontaneously relegated to any kind of "novelty" without the genre boundary or aesthetic. Classical, Folk, Jazz, Pop, Ethnic etc. Very passionate in the defense of musical creation, and always in close collaboration with the composers, Portal Musik is ready to assure the world premieres, to introduce the works written in 20th century which are unknown by the public. Also, both members make arrangements of the different works in order to renew the colour of the cello-piano combination. The duo gave concerts in Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Paris, Nancy (France) and Zutphen (NL). Among the upcoming concerts, the Festival de Musique aux Mirabelles in Hattonchatel in September 2018 (Lorraine, France).
Kanako Abe
Japanese conductor and pianist born in Osaka, Kanako studied Piano from the age of 2. After her graduation at Tokyo University of Arts and Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), she started her career first as a pianist. Her CD for Takemitsu solo piano works released in 2000 was highly appreciated by the critic. In 2005 she founded a chamber orchestra for contemporary music “Ensemble Multilatérale” and became its music director / permanent conductor (until 2014).
Her repertoire covers from baroque to contemporary music. Especially, as her background shows, contemporary music is her specialty. She premiered more than 90 compositions and made lot of radio & CD recording in close collaboration with several composers including Martin Matalon, Michaël Lévinas, Michael Jarrell.
She also conducted operas, such as “La Traviata”, “Macbeth” and “Die Zauberflöte” at Zürich Opera House, Opéra national Montpellier Occicitanie and Rhin National Opera.
In 2013 Fabio Luisi asked her to be his assistant conductor at the Festival della Valle d'Itria.
As for social contribution, she organized and conducted in 2011 and 2012 at UNESCO, the charity concert for the victims of Earthquake and Tsunami in Tôhoku, sponsored by the Embassy of Japan.
She also has a strong passion on education, she founded in 2014 with Alfian Emir Adytia the Indonesian Youth Symphony Orchestra and became its Music Director. She works for educational concerts for young pupils to enhance the interests on contemporary music in Paris.
Kanako Abe is currently the president of The Association Franco Japonaise de la Musique Contemporaine, Artistic Director of Musica Universalis and Music Partner of Tokyo Ensemnable Factory.
Alfian Emir Adytia
Indonesian musician rooting in The Netherlands, Alfian Emir Adytia is actively performing cello and composing both classical and non-classical music. Having a borderless margin in musical interest, Alfian is fascinated by the complexity of Boulez's serialism, Covet's math rock, Bach's contrapuntal and at the same time the simplicity of Haruka Nakamura, genius of Bill Wurtz, charm of Brad Mehldau, noises of Merzbow.
Alfian drew several artistic achievements in the past such as The Best Performance Prize in the Zhang Jia Jie International Country Music Week 2013 (China), 1st prize at Composition Competition 50 Years of Blessings Avip Priatna 2016 (Jakarta), 2nd prize/Publikprijs in Asten Classic Award 2018 (Netherlands), 1st prize/Juriprijs in Willem Twee Chamber Music Competition 2018 (Netherlands).
As a cellist, Alfian was involved in orchestras and festivals such as Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra, Jakarta City Philharmonic, Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, New European Ensemble, Dordrechts Kamerorkest, Amsterdam Cello Biennale, Jazz in de Gracht, Tong Tong Fair, Gaudeamus Muziekweek, Opera Forward Festival and International Cello Festival Zutphen. Current on going projects as a cellist are his solo cello set, cello-piano duo Portal Musik, cello duo Achterom, unconventional string quartet Hodiernal Quartet, pierrot ensemble Orochi. Alfian is now playing on a 1870 Radrizzani instrument, played before by Jeroen Bool, owned by Luc Bool.
As a composer, Alfian is endlessly seeking voices and colours. With his gained knowledges in classical music, Alfian currently deepen his electronic side to find possibilities of harmony between these two. Several institutions and individuals who commissioned him are Jakarta City Philharmonic, Jakarta Concert Orchestra, Kompas Gramedia, Zutphen Cello Academy, Bagaskoro Byar Sumirat (oboist). His works have been widely played in Southeast Asia, East Asia, The Netherlands, France and in the US