Maria Theresia von Paradis: Sicilienne for Flute and Harp

PPZ production presents in Best Youth European Classical program: Vita Benko, flute Eva Tomšič, harp Maria Theresia Paradis (also von Paradies) (May 15, 1759 – February 1, 1824), was an Austrian musician and composer who lost her sight at an early age, and for whom Mozart may have written his Piano Concerto No. 18 in B-flat major. Maria Theresia Paradis was the daughter of Joseph Anton Paradis, Imperial Secretary of Commerce and Court Councilor to Empress Maria Theresa, for whom she was named. The Empress, however, was not her godmother, as was often believed. Between the ages of 2 and 5 she lost her eyesight. Paradis was treated from late 1776 until the middle of 1777 by the famous Franz Anton Mesmer, who was able to improve her condition temporarily until she was removed from his care, amid concerns on the one hand of possible scandal,[clarification needed] on the other hand at the potential loss of her disability pension.[1] In either case, on this departure from Dr. Mesmer the blindness came back permanently. Flutist Vita Benko was born in Slovenia. After finishing High School of Music in Ljubljana and High School Ledina Ljubljana she studied at Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in the class of prof. Irena Grafenauer, Henrik Wiese and Prof. Paolo Taballione where she graduated in Bachelor and Master Programm. She is a first prize winner of Savarez-Corelli international competition and was honored several times as a prize winner in the music competition “Temsig” Slovenia. Vita Benko has participated in several masterclasses with renowned flutists, such as Emmanuel Pahud, Emily Beynon, Felix Renggli, Peter-Lukas Graf, Susan Milan, Michel Debost and Michael Kofler. Passionate about chamber music, she regularly performs with different ensembles in Austria and abroad. She performed at Schloss Arenberg Salzburg, Festival Ljubljana Slovenia, Festival Lent Slovenia, Tartini Festival Slovenia and Klaviersommer in Wasserburg Germany. In 2017 she recorded Saint-Saens’s Carnival des Animaux with Salzburg Chamber Soloists and participated in the CD recording of a new Slovenian musical Veronika Deseniška. With Concerto de Bassus she recorded Simon Mayr’s Opera Saffo for Naxos Records. As an orchestra musician, she plays with Philharmonie Salzburg, Salzburg Chamber Soloists, and Staatopera Ljubljana Slovenia. She is the protege of the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation. Vita Benko was two times scholarship holder for outstanding achievements from the University Mozarteum and twice scholarship holder of Universität Mozarteum Ordentliche Stipendium. During her studies, she also received ZOIS Stipendium for talented students from Slovenian government. Eva Tomšič, Harp Eva started to play the harp at the age of 6 in the music school in Koper, Slovenia. She held her first soloist concert at the age of 13. She proceeded with her harp studies first at the music high school in Koper and later at the Koninkljiik Konservatorium in Brussels, Belgium with prof. Jana Bouskova where she obtained her bachelor degree at the age of 21. In June 2018 she finished her Masters’ Degree in harp at the Mozarteum Universitaet in Salzburg, Austria with prof. Stephen Fitzpatrick. She has obtained several awards and prizes on the national and worldwide level, also the third prize on the worlds’ most prestigious harp competition that is held in Israel every three years. She has performed in Australia, Wales, Belgium, France, Italy, Serbia, Germany, Israel, Austria. editoral and assisant director: Juš Hrastnik producer and director: Primož Zevnik Balance engineer: Mitja Krže (Radio Slovenia audio crew) Floral: Yasmin (Tina Karba and Marko Trilar) Cankarjev dom: Tina Kramberger VPK: producer Sven Godec MOPS: Marjan Cerar PPZ: Primož Zevnik, director and producer KLOPOTEC: mastering Iztok Zupan Gimnazija Kranj Film Crew: Juš Egart, Luka Šarec, Jernej Zatler, Jurij Samykin, Rok Kozamernik, Jerneja Rotar, Jaša Krč, Andraž Žnidar, Juš Hrastnik, Gal Nagode Technical Crew: Božidar Basta, Domen Baumgartner, Juš Egart, Juš Hrastnik, Jakob Istenič, Matija Ječnik, Tina Jelovčan, Vid Košiček, Rok Kozamernik, Aljaž Lavtižar, Miha Lipovec, Kaja Magovac, Gal Nagode, Ruth Romih, Jerneja Rotar, Domen Sajovic, Jurij Samykin, Luka Šarec, Andraž Stariha, Luka Stojanović, Jernej Zatler Recorded: Gallus Hall, december 2017