Kelly Thoma & Mayu Shviro Duet

New lyra sounds from Crete

In their duo, the Greek lyra virtuoso Kelly Thoma and the Israeli cellist Mayu Shviro interweave contemporary modal compositions with improvisational freedom and world music depth. Their music draws on ancient sound traditions from the eastern Mediterranean and creates a modern, floating dialogue between cello and lyre - archaic and timeless at the same time. Virtuosity, poetry and tonal curiosity merge into a captivating listening experience that builds bridges between cultures.
Thoma, a student of the legendary Ross Daly, is regarded as one of the most important voices of the Cretan lyre and can be heard on renowned stages around the world. Shviro, a classically trained cellist with Japanese-Iraqi roots, has developed her musical language from Arabic, Turkish and Azerbaijani traditions. Together they create a fascinating dialogue of archaic melodies and modern soundscapes - poetic, virtuosic and full of depth.