Gracias a la Vida

Inspired by Ana-Carmen’s Argentine roots, they have created a vibrant yet intimate program that brings immediacy and a fresh perspective to well-known songs as well as chamber classical works, arranged for the unusual combination of voice, cello, and guitar. The program was created in collaboration with and commissioned by four international summer festivals – Wonderfeel (NL), Istanbul Music Festival (TR), Valley of Arts (HU), and Viva Musica! festival (SK) – and is part of the EFFEA residency (European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists), carried out under the auspices of the European Festivals Association.

“Gaining experience at such special music festivals with an engaging program that reflects our lives and passions means a great deal to us. Ana and Vitor are both dear friends, whom I know from very different contexts. In this program, we present our most personal musical expression, and it is therefore a great honour for us to perform at these fantastic festivals,” said Hadewych van Gent, who also collaborates with British saxophone star Jess Gillam and has performed with Coldplay as well as with Grammy-winning singer Laufey.

Hadewych and Ana-Carmen Balestra both studied at the prestigious Guildhall School in London. They are versatile musicians who move with ease between classical music and other genres. Both are finalists of the Dutch Classical Talent competition and have also been nominated for one of the most important music awards in the Netherlands, the Grachtenfestival Prize. Completing the trio is Brazilian guitarist based in Berlin, Vitor Noah, who, in addition to classical music, is also dedicated to Brazilian traditional music and the exploration of performance practice in both historical and contemporary contexts. He is the recipient of several major awards, including the David Russell Guitar Prize (UK), the Concurso Villa-Lobos, and the MASP Guitar Competition (Brazil), as well as top prizes at international competitions in Spain and Germany.

The concert will take place on Saturday, 25 July 2026 at 8:00 PM in the picturesque Garden of the Albrecht House on Kapitulská Street. All arrangements are by Brazilian guitarist Victor Santana.

In collaboration with: