Ufuk & Bahar Dördüncü | José Porcel

Ufuk & Bahar Dördüncü

The great French pianist F.R. Duchable depicts Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü as two committed pianists equipped with flawless technique, delivering vigorous and evocative performances. The Dördüncü piano duo is distinguished with the magic of exceptional technique coupled with harmony of their long-standing connection evidenced in their performances.

The Duo’s Ankara, Geneva, Saragosse and Paris awards represent a significant aspect of their music career. Performance at the world's most distinguished concert halls with conductors like A. Jordan, Z. Nagy, A. Shwinck, P. Rophè, etc. have been elemental to this structural integrity. The artists have performed at the Victoria Hall Geneva, Saal Molière Lyon, the Palace of Nations in Brazilia, Liederhalle Sttutgart, Wittengenstein Palace in Düsseldorf and others; in addition to their collaborations with great artists like Peter Ustinov, Heinz Holliger, Steven Schick and Maurice Bourgue. They have participated in festivals like Amadeus, Schubertiade, Ars Musica Strasbourg, Archipel, Paris Fontainbleau, Japon Akoyishidai and Australia as well as in numerous music festivals in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara in Turkey.

Ufuk & Bahar Dördüncü are regularly invited to perform with the Ankara, Izmir, Istanbul, Adana and Bursa State Symphony Orchestras, the CRR Symphony Orchestra Istanbul, the Bilkent Orchestra, the Ensemble Contrechamps, the Geneva Chamber Orchestra and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra amongst others.

Acclaimed as "Cultural Ambassadresses" of Turkey, Ufuk and Bahar represent their country all over the world with much-admired performances received enthusiastically by prominent critics. They have also been invited and honored to be patrons by the Foundation of Prim'enfance and Cercle de Grange.

The Duo continues to impress its audience with its original projects, like the programme combining Spanish piano music of Albéniz, Infante and Ravel with the dance of the renowned flamenco dancer José Porcel.

José Porcel

José Porcel was born in Sevilla, and at the age of thirteen began dancing Andalucian folkloric dances and flamenco in cultural centers in Valencia.  He began his dance studies at 16 with the master Martín Vargas.  He moved to Madrid and continued his studies with Paco Romero, Isabel Quintero, Cristóbal Reyes, Pedro Azorín and José Granero.

In 1989 he made his professional debut with the Ballet de Valencia, directed by Martín Vargas, and was promoted to soloist in the company the following year.

In 1991 Mr. Porcel choreographed his first flamenco work, "Te traigo al sur, Miguel," under the direction of the flamencologist Federico Torres, in the Teatro Principal in Alicante.  In 1992 he directed and performed in his first flamenco company, in the Expo de Sevilla.

In 1993 José Porcel took part in a tour of America with Clara Romana’s company, in the work "Carmina Burrana".  In 1994 he was invited to join the Ballet Nacional de España, where he interpreted works including "Medea", "Ritmos", "Bolero de Ravel", "El Sombrero de tres picos", "Danza y tronio", "Los Tarantos", "Fantasia Galaica", "Grito", "Poeta" yand many flamenco ballets.

In 1997 he brought his performance entitled "Entrañas flamencas" to the flamenco festival of the Palacio de la Música in Valencia.

Within the Ballet Nacional, he worked with masters including José Granero, Victoria Eugenia, Juanjo Linares, Currillo, Manolo Marín, Javier de la Torre, Antonio Canales, Pedro Azorín.  As soloist with the company he danced in "Los Tarantos" as Picaos, "Medea" as the man of Medea, and "Grito" as Soleá (flamenco). As premier dancer in the Ballet Nacional de España he interpreted "Farruca" (flamenco) and "Danza y tronío".  In December 1999 Mr. Porcel danced as soloist in the company of Rafael Aguilar, interpreting the Torero in "Carmen" during a major tour of Germany and Switzerland.

In 2000 he danced as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, under the direction of maestro Héctor Zaraspe.  In this same year he was contracted as the first dancer in the Compañía Española de Antonio Márquez, performing on tour around the world and at the Ópera de París for over 20 sold-out performances, followed by a critically acclaimed tour of the United States during the 2001-2002 season. The Company scored a sensational success with their coast to coast tour of North America in the 2008-2009 season and returns to the United States and Canada in the 2011-2012 season in their thrilling new program “Gypsy Fire”.

2011-2012 Please do not use older versions of this biography. For any modifications, please contact  a r t e s y s t e m.