The Duo

Criticism

“The evening's highlight came from The Duo...fascinating...captivating...haunting.”

– Josef Woodard, The Los Angeles Times

“Pick of the Week.”

– LA Weekly

“...exceptional guitarists.  The performances were spectacular for their ensemble precision and sensitivity; The Duo of Eric Benzant-Feldra and Michael Kudirka negotiated the delicate rubatos of Impulsos No.2 as if disbursing flower petals.”

– Eric Valliere, Andante.com

“The two make excellent duo partners, tight and responsive, and their overview of several centuries of lute and guitar pieces was a thrill.  They demonstrated remarkably catholic musical sensibilities, from their light, crisply ornamented reading of transcriptions from Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Pièces de Clavecin to their driving, percussive and funk-flavored rendition of Johanson’s The Banana Dance.”

– James McQuillen, The Oregonian

“The Duo embodies all the energy and creative spirit of youth, tempered by musical intelligence and technical discipline.  They are the future of classical guitar.”

– William Kanengiser, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet

“In The Duo of Eric Benzant-Feldra and Michael Kudirka one can see and hear the future of the guitar ensemble.  And, given their remarkable musical integrity, virtuosity, and enthusiasm, the future looks bright indeed!”

– Scott Tennant, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet

“The Duo plays with high energy, precision, and style.”

– David Tanenbaum, Guitarist

“Eric and Michael are one of the most exciting guitar duos to hit contemporary guitar scene in the US.  They play with great energy, feeling and a sophisticated sense of style.  Their approach is unmistakably of this age, with their eclectic and interesting repertoire.  It is difficult to imagine an audience would not be taken by their highly accomplished and electrifying ensemble playing.”

– Dušan Bogdanović, Guitarist & Composer

“The Duo plays with fire, commitment, humor, musicianship and a strong personal bond that is immediately apparent when they begin to perform.  They play with equal parts passion and understanding the music of the past and present.  In the next generation of young guitarists, they stand out as artists with a bright future.”

– Bryan Johanson, Guitarist & Composer

“The Duo left our audience spellbound! these two talented young men are breaking new ground with a repertoire that delivers a crowd-pleasing array of styles ranging from the Baroque to Twentieth Century microtonality.

Their master class the next day left the students infatuated with their personalities and inspired by their enthusiasm, passion and commitment to their art.  Our students have had a fire lit inside them has continued to burn long after The Duo has departed.

These two performers definitely will be having an impact on the guitar world for years to come.  Their influence and the repertoire they bring to the table will undoubtedly affect the next generation of guitarists!!”

– Steven Suvada, Guitarist & Guitar Department Chair at Harper Colleg