Duo Fantastico (Novi Sad/Serbia)

Vojvodina’s ethnical heritage can be viewed through a genre hue in which this typical national folklore contributes to the universal color palette of the entire region. Duo Fantastico, the Rotheles with their cimbalom and cello, raise the entire story to a completely new level, giving the local melody a planetary tone, combining it with classical and film music, and evergreen.

Šandor Rothele and Irenka Burai Rothele have for over 20 years now been members of the Great National Orchestra of RTV, performingall across Europe, especially at festivals of traditional music all across the Danube region, which gathered just these kinds of ensembles. As for their careers out of house, they succeeded in having many fruitful collaborations with the leading names from the local ethno and artistic scene, including Zvonko Bogdan, Šaban Bajramović, Emir Kusturica, Đorđe Balašević, The Frajle and many others. Their repertoire is diverse, from old gems like “Bele ruže, nežne ruže” (White Rose, Gentle Rose), through to Paganini’s caprices, and “Lara’s Theme” from the film classic Dr Zhivago. All that in a chamber performance on two romantic instruments sounds truly seductive.