Winners of the Bank Austria Prix d'Art, Vienna-based Ukrainian violinist Vira Zhuk and Georgian pianist Mariam Vardzelashvili are two independent artists, united by the passion for the most intimate of chamber music formations, the duo. Their ensemble fascinates audiences with highly individual approach and fresh reading of major large-scale works from 300 years of repertoire. Both musicians are characterized by a vibrant stage presence, which is particularly poignant when they are performing works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Schumann, as well as select composers of our day.

 

Mariam and Vira have performed at prestigious venues such as the Musikverein Wien, Wiener Konzerthaus, Flagey in Brussels, Teatro Manoel in Malta, Danish Royal Opera, Kyiv Philharmonie just to name a few. Outside of Europe, the duo has performed in North and South Americas, at the Phelps Mansion Museum in New York, West Virginia University Bloch Hall in USA, Tarapaca Musica Festival in Chile, etc.

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In October 2023, upon the invitation of the Austrian Embassy in Georgia and Armenia, the duo performed three concerts to celebrate the National Day of Austria, in Tbilisi, Yerevan and at the prestigious Tsinandali Estate. 

 

In 2018 the Duo has released their CD #onthemove dedicated to three important cities in their lives - Vienna, Kyiv and Tbilisi. The record features major works by F. Schubert, such as the 'Fantasy', as well as several commissions from prominent female Georgian composer E. Chabashvili, a premiere of Austrian B. Gander and the legendary Ukrainian Maestro Y. Stankovych.

 

United by the idea of exploring and expanding the boundaries of the repertoire for violin and piano, the two musicians have found new approach to the pinnacle works of the standard repertoire by mixing musical influences from their home countries, Ukraine and Georgia, with the rich traditions of the Viennese Chamber music-making.