Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Duo Tenebroso is known for their warm musicality and singular interpretations. Their concerts are filled with a wide variety of music from the Baroque masters Bach, Vivaldi, and Scarlatti, to the romantics such as Brahms, as well as new transcriptions and music from living composers like Brouwer, Assad, Duarte, Pujol, and Carbajo. Members David Franzen and Kristen Waligora take pleasure in expanding the guitar repertoire by constantly searching out new works as well as transcribing undiscovered classics.
Duo Tenebroso member David Franzen has performed with renowned artists such as Angel Romero and the Columbia Symphony under Huw Edwards, the Oregon Symphony under Norman Leyden, the Siberian Chamber Orchestra under Alexei Ludmilin, the Guitar Foundation of America Festival, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. Member Kristen Waligora has performed in the Bel Canto Northwest Festival and the Portland Classic Guitar Concert Series as well being among the judges at the Northwest Guitar Festival in 2017.
The name Duo Tenebroso is inspired by the painting style of Tenebrism which employs extreme contrasts of dark and light, with darkness being the predominant feature to allow a spotlight on the subject. In much the same way, Duo Tenebroso strives to use the language of music to illuminate the spirit.