Saxophonist Michal Knot and accordionist Bogdan Laketic founded Duo Aliada in 2013 while studying at the music university in Vienna. What sparked the curiosity and motivated the two musicians to form a duo were unique sound possibilities and enormous expressive potential of this unusual combination of instruments.

“HOW WELL THE SAXOPHONE AND THE ACCORDION SOUND TOGETHER HAS BEEN KNOWN AT LEAST SINCE THE DUO ALIADA.” – DER FALTER

After unanimously winning the Grand Prix at the Fidelio Competition in 2013, the duo has quickly caught the attention of the classical music world through their passionate performances on stage and a signature approach to arranging and presenting classical music in a new light.

“DUO ALIADA HAS SUCH A HIGH TECHNICAL LEVEL, THAT MAKES EVERYTHING MUSICALLY POSSIBLE. THEY ALWAYS PLAY WITH A UNIQUE CREATIVITY, WHICH ABSOLUTELY CAPTIVATES THE LISTENER. FANTASTIC!” – REMY FRANCK (PIZZICATO MAGAZINE)

The duo‘s first artistic season 2015/16 was filled with over 70 concerts on five continents. This included performances in Carnegie Hall, Wiener Musikverein, Tonhalle Zürich, Teatro del Lago Chile, Hermitage Theatre St. Petersburg, Kolarac Belgrade and Katsushika Symphony Hills Tokyo, as well as tours in Austria, Poland, Taiwan, Malaysia, Chile and Mexico. Meanwhile, their debut album “New colors of the past” was recorded, and it has been received with tremendous critical acclaim.

“SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT!” – SWR2

“THOROUGHBRED MUSICIANS.” – BR KLASSIK

In following years, Aliada have become regular guests at classical music festivals worldwide, such as Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Grafenegg Festival, Kissinger Sommer, Thüringer Bachwochen, Brandenburgische Sommerkonzerte, MITO Settembre Musica, Istanbul Music Festival, Festival de Música de Morelia and Johor Bahru Music Festival City to name a few.

“WATCHING AND LISTENING TO THESE YOUNG TALENTS IS OUT OF THIS WORLD.” – HRAUDIO.NET

Duo Aliada has been selected for the prestigious sponsorship platform “The New Austrian Sound of Music”, and within its framework they had the opportunity to perform in over 30 countries, what made them the most requested ensemble in the history of this program. In 2018, Duo Aliada became a prize winner at the M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition in Ann Arbor, University of Michigan. Their latest achievement was a title of “Featured Ensemble” of Jeunesse Austria. This collaboration brought their solo debut at the legendary Golden Hall of Wiener Musikverein in April 2022.

“OUTSTANDINGLY TALENTED AND CREATIVE MUSICIANS.” – WIENER MUSIKVEREIN

Aliada’s constant search for new soundscapes enabled them to bring their arrangement techniques to perfection, leading to groundbreaking versions of classical works for their instruments.

“WHETHER THE MUSIC HAILS ORIGINALLY FROM THE 17TH OR 21ST CENTURY, THE EFFECT ACHIEVED BY DUO ALIADA IS STAGGERING.” – UK SAXOPHONE AND CLARINET MAGAZINE

“THE VARIETY OF COLORS AND EXPRESSIONS OF BOTH PLAYERS WAS AS RICH AS IT WAS AN ENTIRE ORCHESTRA OF INSTRUMENTS AND PERFORMERS TO PLAY DURING THE CONCERT.” – KLASIKAPLUS.CZ

Having premiered more than twenty works for saxophone and accordion duo, they demonstrate a strong interest in new music. One of the most recent projects was a premiere of “Ancient Night” – a composition by polish composer Wojciech Chałupka. It is one of the first concertos for saxophone, accordion and symphonic orchestra.

“THE TWO MUSICIANS PROVE THEIR ABILITY TO PRESENT CONTEMPORARY WORKS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY BECOME RAVISHINGLY MUSICAL.“ – PIZZICATO

Following the success of their 2015 debut album, the Duo decided to come back to the studio a few years later. Their second album “East West” (2021, Hänssler Classic) was nominated for International Classical Music Awards, as well as for OPUS Klassik Prize in two categories. Both Aliada albums have been broadcasted by major european radio stations, including BBC, SWR2, BR Klassik, ORF1 and Radio Klassik.

„THIS CD IS OVERFLOWING WITH GREAT MUSIC, BE IT VIRTUOSIC OR ATMOSPHERIC. FIRST OF ALL, LETS POINT OUT THE QUALITY OF THE TRANSCRIPTIONS, WHICH ALWAYS PRESERVE, IF NOT ENHANCE, THE SUBSTANCE OF THE MUSIC AND ITS GENUINE CHARACTER, MAKING THE MOST OF THE POTENTIALS OF THE TWO INSTRUMENTS. THIS IS NOT SHOWY, BUT HONESTLY FELT, UNPRETENTIOUS MUSIC-MAKING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.“ – PIZZICATO MAGAZINE

During the current season, Aliada has scheduled performances at festivals in Austria and Germany, as well as concert tours in Japan, Norway, France, Croatia and Spain.

“WHEN POLISH SAXOPHONIST MICHAL KNOT AND SERBIAN-BORN ACCORDIONIST BOGDAN LAKETIC MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER, NEW WORLDS OPEN UP.” – INFRANKEN.DE

DUO ALIADA © 2023