DUO ARDEA

Laure-Catherine Beyers, soprano

Ana Ostojić, piano

Laure-Catherine Beyers (soprano) and Ana Ostojić (piano) form the dynamic Duo Ardea. In September 2025, they won first prize at the IVC Theatre in Song 2025 in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NL) with their program It’s Complicated. Most recently, the duo also received a prize at the International Lied Duo Competition Schubert and the Music of the Modern Era 2025 in Graz.

The duo naturally bridges contemporary and classical music, as well as traditional repertoire with more experimental and performative works. Their artistic partnership began in Graz during their master’s studies in Performance Practice in Contemporary Music at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. In January 2024, they worked on a groundbreaking project centered on Helmut Lachenmann’s demanding work Got Lost, which they rehearsed and performed in close collaboration with the composer himself. This experience highlighted their exceptional musical synergy and their shared commitment to making complex music accessible and communicative.

At the heart of Duo Ardea’s artistic vision lies the desire not to be constrained by tradition. The duo seeks to honor the rich history of the art song while simultaneously developing a contemporary, innovative approach to interpretation—combining classical and contemporary lied repertoire with performative works. This also includes reimagining standard repertoire from the perspective of today’s lived experiences and infusing each work with their own identity and artistic voice. Their goal is to tell compelling stories that resonate with today’s audiences, without compromising the integrity and beauty of the original works.

In November 2025, Duo Ardea collaborated with the young composers Sanziana Dobrovicescu and Mihai Codrea, both based in Austria, to premiere their project Echoes beyond the Body, the Duino Elegies—a homage to the work of Austrian poet R. M. Rilke—at the Rhône Festival in Brig (Switzerland).

In August 2024, the duo appeared at Kultursommer Wien, where they presented their program Got Lost, Traveling through Soundscapes.

In February of this year, they returned once more to Lachenmann’s music, this time in combination with newly commissioned works, in a concert at the Alte Schmiede Wien. Further upcoming projects include their first CD production with Murmurs Records, followed by a release concert in autumn 2026 at the Minoritensaal in Graz.

VDEOS

© Lucija Novak