PALKO & Co’s TOSPANN autumn project features a duo concert and masterclasses at Kulturbruk 44/4. Pianist and artistic director Benedicte Palko shares the stage with some of Europe’s finest musicians. This year, the Spanish violinist Javier Comesaña (b. 1996, Alcalá de Guadaira, Seville) will perform in Norway for the first time.
Young musicians can participate in free masterclasses with Palko and Comesaña from 3–7 December. (Info and registration available on the website.)
Concert Programme – 5 December, 19:30
- J. Turina: Violin and Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 51
- E. Bloch: Poème Mystique, Violin and Piano Sonata
- R. Strauss: Violin and Piano Sonata
Violinist Javier Comesaña
Javier Comesaña is the acclaimed winner of the 6th Jascha Heifetz International Competition in Vilnius and recipient of the prestigious Prinz von Hessen-Preis from Kronberg Academy. In December 2024, he was awarded the honorary medal from the Yehudi Menuhin España Foundation. He has studied under renowned teachers including Yuri Managadze, Sergey Teslya, Marco Rizzi, and Antje Weithaas, and participated in masterclasses with prominent musicians. He has also received honours from Queen Sofia of Spain. Active as a chamber musician in Trio Michelangeli, Javier has performed at prestigious festivals and concert halls across Europe and played as a soloist with numerous national and international orchestras. He currently plays a Claude Pierray violin from around 1720.
More about Javier: www.javiercomesana.com
Pianist Benedicte Palko
Born in Stavanger to Norwegian-Hungarian parents, Benedicte has lived in Seville, Spain since 2002. She is a musical architect, carefully selecting projects aligned with her artistic vision, driven by a deep passion for chamber music. Recognised for her technical brilliance and melodic sensitivity, her music captivates both audiences and critics. She is a member of the Norwegian Society of Composers and has been inspired by teachers such as José Ribera and the legendary György Sebök.
As a sought-after chamber musician, Benedicte is celebrated for her empathetic collaborations with renowned artists and her mentorship of young Spanish and international musicians. She frequently leads masterclasses at prestigious European institutions and is a professor of chamber music at MUSIKENE in the Basque Country.
Beyond the stage, she founded and serves as artistic director of the Joaquín Turina International Chamber Music Festival in Seville. In 2019, she launched “PALKO & Co” in Stavanger, an annual project combining music with literature, nature, and gastronomy. Her career spans Scandinavia, Europe, the USA, and Asia, and she will return to South Korea for the third time in 2025.
More about Benedicte: www.benedictepalko.com