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Who else do I make music with?
Together with my husband, violinist Eliot Lawson, we form a unique duo.
Besides Jill, I'm fortunate to have another world-class musician by my side: my husband, violinist Eliot Lawson. Eliot has a very busy concert schedule as a soloist and chamber musician. He also teaches at various conservatories, including ARTS2 in Mons and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and earned his doctorate (music, musicology, and performing artist) in 2019.
Years ago, we developed a desire to make music together as a duo, without relying on a piano and pianist. This allows us complete freedom regarding location. Thanks to this setup, we are much more flexible and can perform anywhere: in concert halls, museums, libraries, galleries, churches, schools, hangars, parks, pavilions… you name it.
The repertoire for solo violin and solo voice is quite rare, but it contains some beautiful works. In addition, we arrange masterworks ourselves for this unique instrumentation, and Belgian contemporary composers dedicate creations to us.
We offer intimate programs that, thanks to their versatility, appeal to a wide audience, from classical music connoisseurs to occasional music lovers. During our premiere in Portugal (Braga, May 2012), we were enthusiastically received. The Belgian audience first heard us at the EcoCafé in Borgerhout, and later during the "Wandelconcerten" (Walking Concerts) in the Sint-Laurentiuskerk in Antwerp (December 2012).
Here's an impression of our performance during the Covid pandemic, with our third son Alexis still in my belly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnbnVe2BduA
Below are some of our current favorite programs.
In "With a Touch of Baroque," songs and arias by Purcell and Händel are intertwined with the masterful violin solos from Bach's partitas and sonatas, alongside some original works for this unique instrumentation, such as compositions by Holst and Vaughan Williams.
Our program "Intimate Romance and Opera Duets" includes, among other pieces, Strauss's Morgen and the violin solo from one of his Vier letzte Lieder as a romantic highlight, as well as well-known opera duets with the violin as the second voice.