Jan and Clara Hugo Duo

DUO SOPRANO AND PIANO

Jan and Clara Hugo have been performing together since 2015. They met in Leipzig, Germany, at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater “Mendelssohn-Bartholdy” where they were both students. Since then, besides being a married couple, they have performed extensively in Europe and South Africa. The point of departure of this fruitful collaboration is a great love for historical Bel Canto singing, based upon the attentive study of early recordings, historical treatises on singing and historical instruments.

Their repertoire spans from early 19th century composers like Spontini, Cherubini, Adam, Bellini, Donizetti, to French music of the early 20th century and Italian vocal chamber music of the 20th century, including composers like Respighi, Casella, Pizzetti, Dallapiccola.

They have performed at the Maison de Victor Hugo (Paris), Festival Liederiadi (Milan), Palazzo Zurla de Poli (Crema) as well as for major musical associations in South Africa. Their next performances will be at the MaMu and the Museo del 900 in Milan, as well as at the Tourgeniev House and the Château de Rueil Malmaison in Paris.

They are currently completing a Master’s degree at the Conservatoire in Milan, specialising in Italian vocal chamber music, and are both doing research at the Sorbonne University in Paris on Bel Canto singing and the musical traditions of the 19th century.