Album Notes

From Moment to Moment, Duo Transatlantique's second release, builds on the success of their first album, Le Gris et Le Vert and draws strength from the popularity of their concert programs heard regularly around the world. The album was produced in England by acclaimed sound engineer and producer John Taylor, who is well-known for his recordings with guitarists David Russell, Eliot Fisk, and Xue-Fei Yang.

The CD features a novel arrangement of music by Maud Laforest from Yann Tiersen's score of the French film Amelie (Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain). “Selections from Amelie were very atmospheric... with the music very redolent of the original accordion sounds.”

It also includes Little Suite for Children, dedicated to the duo by French composer Eric Penicaud, who is described as “one of the most interesting guitarist-composers in the French scene.” The recording of this piece also opens a compilation of Penicaud's music, Guitar of the 21st Century, played by a “plethora of prestigious performers” including Roland Dyens, Roberto Aussel, and Fabio Zanon.

Although Maud Laforest and Benjamin Beirs “...come from different countries – France and America...” they are consistently praised for their “faultless display of ensemble work.” Almost immediately after beginning their studies in 2002 at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, the two decided to form a guitar duo, under the guidance of Julian Gray, an acclaimed chamber musician and founder of the Gray-Pearl guitar duo. Early in their collaboration they realized that their ensemble had the potential to last far longer than the years they were planning to spend at Peabody. Soon, in 2005, Ben embarked on his first journey to France, where the duo won first prize in the Union Francaise des Artistes Musiciens Guitar Duo Competition and played a concert in the American Cathedral in Paris. Since then, they have continued touring annually. Currently, Ms. Laforest lives in Reims, France, while Mr. Beirs has stayed in Baltimore.

Duo Transatlantique is a celebration of the power of music and its ability to cross bridges, cultures, and time zones. To that end, the duo gives concerts frequently throughout the year in both countries. In France, the duo has appeared at the Hôtel de ville de Neuilly-sur-Seine, les Jeudis Musicaux de Royan, le Festival Européen Jeunes Talents, le Festival des Chapelles, in churches throughout Paris, and has performed for the outreach group Coeur en Fête. In the United States, the duo has performed at the Phillips Collection, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Peabody Conservatory of Music, the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society, and the musical outreach group The Creative Access. Please visit http://www.duotransatlantique.com for more information.