Cellist Rebecca Hartka and grammy-nominated guitarist and composer Jose Lezcano have been praised by American Record Guide for their collaboration: “Hartka and Lezcano play off against each other in a subtle but effective unity of rubato relationships that brings off the sonatas with a personality that catches the ears and holds them” (D. Moore, American Record Guide). The Duo has performed together since 2014 nationally and internationally in venues such as the Longy School of Music, the Mariposa Museum, Saint Gaudens, Saugerties Pro Musica, Dartmouth’s Vaughan Series, the Mohawk concerts, the Arts Block, and the Tedx stage. Specializing in repertoire and collaborations that cross cultures, Duo Mundo performed most recently with indigenous Ecuadorian musician Inti Cachimuel at the Nubanusit Neighborhood in Peterborough, NH. In 2019 and 2020 the Duo toured in Yucatán Mexico, which included a performance at Centro Cultural La Cúpula in Merida, as well as collaborations with indigenous Mayan Musicians. In March 2017 the duo performed and gave master classes in Havana, Cuba through the invitation of UNEAC for the Cello Festival of Havana. Their first recording was released in fall 2017 on Becsta Records. Michael Johnson said of the CD in Facts and Arts that it “displays a high degree of heart and total control” and that he was “captivated by the virtuosity”.

Our Tedx talk about hybridized musical styles and cross cultural connections.

Guest Review / Judith Kerman

Also on February 16, Saugerties Pro Musica presented the ensemble Duo Mondo on February 16 at Saugerties United Methodist Church. Cellist Rebecca Hartka and guitarist Jose Lezcano offered an energetic Iberian-flavored program that made excellent use of their fine instruments’ contrasting textures and the performers’ expressive musicianship.

Joaquin Nin’s lively “Spanish Suite” demonstrated balance and interplay of voices. 

The two original compositions, Hartke’s meditative solo “Bone Dust to Star Dust” and Lezcano’s duet “Key West Suite” exhibited a variety of moods and influences. The duet was particularly virtuosic. 

Two short works by Astor Piazzolla and a song by Gabriel Fauré, effectively transcribed from voice and piano, were all lovely and romantic. The final sonata by Brazilian Radames Gnattali highlighted once again the interplay of voices, including humorous contrasting of cello pizzicato and guitar.

Hudson Valley One March 6 2020

Dr. José Manuel Lezcano

Cuban-American guitarist and composer Dr. José Lezcano has performed hundreds of concerts for over 30 years on four continents.  For his Guitar Concerto, which he recorded with North-South Consonance and conductor/director Max Lifchitz on the CD, “Remembrances / Recuerdos,” he received two nominations and was semi-finalist for Grammys in the categories “Best Contemporary Composition” and “Best Soloist with Orchestra.”  In programs of Spanish, South American and original works, he has appeared in major venues, university series, and festivals, including Carnegie Recital Hall, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Spain, Portugal, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, China, Germany, Crete, China, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic as recitalist, collaborative artist, and concerto soloist. 

As Professor of Music at Keene State College, José teaches and coordinates the guitar program, and courses in Latin American music.  His guitar students have been frequent winners of the College’s highest awards and scholarships, and José has been a frequent guest artist at numerous chamber music series in New England, including Apple Hill, Electric Earth, Wisteria, Portland Chamber Music Festival, and Athenaeum concerts in Portsmouth, NH.  Dr. Lezcano earned degrees from Peabody Conservatory (BM guitar), University of South Carolina (MM guitar), and the Florida State University (Ph.D. Music Theory).

Internationally he has appeared with the Orquesta Solistas de la Habana, Cuba; National Symphony of Ecuador; the National Symphony of Peru; the Orchestra of Tolima (Colombia); The Loja Symphony (Ecuador); the Quito Chamber Orchestra; Regionally with the Portsmouth Symphony and Granite State Symphonies (NH); and the South Carolina Philharmonic, in concerti by Rodrigo, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Vivaldi, Giuliani, and Lezcano himself.  Described  by Fanfare Magazine as “an excellent guitarist as well as an imaginative composer,” José has earned numerous professional recognitions, including first prize in the MTNA National Guitar Competition, the NHSAC Individual Artist Fellowship, NHMTA Composer of the Year (twice), KSC Distinguished Research Award, and a Fulbright Research Award to Ecuador.  He was honored by the Keene Sentinel for his contributions to the Arts in the Monadnock Region with a 2016 Ewing Award.  Since 2018 he serves as an elected member of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, where he advocates for New Hampshire’s creative communities. Website

Trio Mundo

Duo Mundo is joined by Robert Lehmann, violinist

“A sensitive musician, with a technique up to just about anything.” was how the Portland Press Herald reviewed violinist and conductor Robert Lehmann who has performed through the US, Europe and his native Mexico. He is Professor of Music at the University of Southern Maine and Music Director of the North Shore Philharmonic, Maine State Ballet and WMMA Bach Festival.

Trio Mundo