Guest Artist: Belladeste String Duo
About
Join us on March 4 at Blair School of Music for a special performance by Balladeste, the acclaimed string duo of violinist Preetha Narayanan and cellist Tara Franks, whose innovative blend of composition, improvisation, and contemporary folk-inspired chamber music has captivated audiences internationally.
⭐ Thursday, March 4, 2027, Turner Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Program and ticket information coming soon.
About Belladeste
Balladeste is a long-standing musical partnership and friendship forged over more than a decade. As performer-composers, Narayanan and Franks have developed a distinctive collaborative voice, weaving together violin and cello to create music that is both ancient and contemporary, devotional and pastoral. Their original works combine lyrical melodies, experimental textures, and improvisational freedom, drawing inspiration from sources as diverse as Hildegard of Bingen, Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Caroline Shaw, and the Silk Road Ensemble.
Since the release of their critically acclaimed album Beyond Breath (2021), Balladeste has gained international recognition through broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4, as well as performances at venues and festivals across Europe and beyond, including the Barbican, Brighton Festival, Café Oto, CCB Lisbon, and El Chopo in Mexico City. Their recordings have earned widespread praise, with Beyond Breath described as “pure magic” and “their greatest achievement to date” by Backseat Mafia.
Alongside four albums of original music and several collaborative projects, Balladeste continues to expand its artistic language through improvisation, composition, and education. The duo regularly works with musicians of all ages, championing creativity, improvisation, and inclusive music-making. Their forthcoming album, Imprints, is scheduled for release in November 2026.
⭐ Thursday, March 4, 2027, Turner Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Program and ticket information coming soon.
About Belladeste
Balladeste is a long-standing musical partnership and friendship forged over more than a decade. As performer-composers, Narayanan and Franks have developed a distinctive collaborative voice, weaving together violin and cello to create music that is both ancient and contemporary, devotional and pastoral. Their original works combine lyrical melodies, experimental textures, and improvisational freedom, drawing inspiration from sources as diverse as Hildegard of Bingen, Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Caroline Shaw, and the Silk Road Ensemble.
Since the release of their critically acclaimed album Beyond Breath (2021), Balladeste has gained international recognition through broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4, as well as performances at venues and festivals across Europe and beyond, including the Barbican, Brighton Festival, Café Oto, CCB Lisbon, and El Chopo in Mexico City. Their recordings have earned widespread praise, with Beyond Breath described as “pure magic” and “their greatest achievement to date” by Backseat Mafia.
Alongside four albums of original music and several collaborative projects, Balladeste continues to expand its artistic language through improvisation, composition, and education. The duo regularly works with musicians of all ages, championing creativity, improvisation, and inclusive music-making. Their forthcoming album, Imprints, is scheduled for release in November 2026.
