Husband-and-wife musical duo Ari Streisfeld and Rachel Calloway have become a recognized name in contemporary music across the country. Now both USC faculty members, the two are preparing for their performance on Friday, part of the university’s Southern Exposure New Music Series.
With Calloway as mezzo-soprano and Streisfeld on violin, the two have been rehearsing their duos all season — both together and individually. They also collaborated with USC’s Percussion Studio for Friday’s performance. The pair will be performing two compositions with the group, as well premiering a brand new duo, The Thaw, by Carolina Heredia.
Calloway says that performing in a duo differs from performing as an individual; soloists have more individual liberty while duos have to make musical and interpretive decisions together.
“Performing in a duo is all about collaboration,” Calloway said. “We inspire each other and react to one another, which has a direct influence on the music.”
Calloway and Streisfeld have both been studying music for nearly 30 years. The New York Times has praised Calloway for her “penetrating clarity” and Streisfeld for his “dazzling performance.” They first met performing together about seven years ago.
“We formed Duo Cortona so we could perform and create more music together,” she said.
Created in 2014, the name Duo Cortona was inspired by the place the couple teach each summer, the Cortona Sessions for New Music.
Performance has given Calloway and Streisfeld an opportunity to travel around the world, including places like New York and Italy. Calloway says that traveling is one of the most exciting aspects of being musicians.
The couple now works at the University of South Carolina School of Music, which describes their addition to the Southern Exposure New Music series as “a colorful synthesis of Eastern and Western musical traditions.”
The series was founded in 2003 by John Fitz Rogers, a composer and USC associate professor of composition. They have hosted four concerts every year since its founding.
The show will be held in the USC School of Music Recital Hall and begin at 7:30 p.m. While the performance is free of charge, early arrival is recommended to get seats. The final performance is set for March 23, featuring Yarn/Wire.
“Many of the pieces are written about modern topics, so it is very ‘of the moment’,” Calloway said. “Students can expect to hear music which may defy all of their expectations.”