The Better Call Duo present their unique and fascinating programme ‘Meaningful Pop’, which focuses on folk music and its profound influence on classical music in original pieces and author’s reworkings. The programme presents compositions from Japan, France and Italy, creating an engaging and diversified listening experience: from the suggestive oriental atmosphere of Rhapsody Japan by Shingo Fuji to the emotional depth of Roland Dyens, to the instant communicative feeling of Suite Italiana by Mario Gangi.

Chieko and Stefano’s a repertoire ranges from classic to contemporary, with special attention to popular music with a classic bend that reaches a wide diversity of listeners.

Their new CD “Meaningful pop” for the Japanese label “Da Vinci” was released in January 2024. The project is promoted with two tours, the first in UK and Ireland in March 2024 and the second in Asia in April 2024 with concerts in Japan, China, and Korea. Despite being a recently formed duo, Chieko and Stefano as soloists have a distinguished musical background. They are winners of more than 20 International Competitions (such as Tokyo International Guitar Competition, Concorso Città di Alessandria, Concorso Mauro Giuliani, Concorso Pujol, Competition of Lagonegro for the Interpretation of Contemporary music, Competition Fernando Sor, Competition Città di Mottola, and Competition Nicola Fago). They have played over 2000 concerts in Europe, United States, Asia, Africa in prestigious Festivals and halls such as the Cordoba Guitar Festival, Iserlohn Guitar Festival, Auditorium Conciliazione e Parco della Musica in Rome, Autunno Musicale di Como, Teatro Rendano di Cosenza, Wiener Festwochen, Lublijana Festival, Teatro delle Erbe di Milano, Teatro Piccinni di Bari, and many more.

They were apart of T.V. and radio broadcasts all over the world and have recorded for important recording labels including Brilliant Classics, Bridge Records NY, Nuova Era, EdiPan, Rivo Alto, Sonic View, Niccolò, Guitart Collection, and Da Vinci Classics.

Programme highlights for this concert include Roland Dyens, Pierre Petit, Shingo Fuji, and Mario Gangi.

Arie Dakesian is a talented awardee of the IGF Young Artist Platform 2023-24.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon to an Armenian family, Arie picked up his first guitar at the age of six and hasn’t left it since. He is now in his final year of undergraduate studies at the Royal College of Music as a Houston Family Award Holder, under the tutelage of Gary Ryan and Christopher Stell. Arie is a recipient of many grants and awards and has worked alongside some of the biggest names of the guitar world. With a busy concert schedule ahead for the 2023/24 season, Arie prepares for his debut at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall this Autumn.

Programme highlights for this concert include Bach, Regondi, and Pujol.