maschacorman

With a line-up of voice, guitar, and Brazilian percussion — including pandeiro, tamborim, reco-reco, and ganzá — the duo creates a transparent and vibrant sound that bridges tradition and contemporary expression.

A particular focus lies on audience engagement and musical mediation: through brief and accessible introductions, the duo offers insights into rhythmic structures, musical forms, and the cultural background of the pieces. They also introduce the instruments and explain their functions within the Brazilian musical tradition.

Depending on the setting, the audience is gently invited to participate — for example through clapping simple rhythms together or through call-and-response elements, especially rooted in Samba traditions. In this way, the performance becomes an immediate and communal experience that goes beyond passive listening.

Duo Passarin emerged from the encounter between Brazilian guitarist Thiago Leite and German singer Mascha Corman, united by their shared passion for Música Popular Brasileira.

Thiago Leite, a classically trained guitarist with a special affinity for Choro and Samba, brings the sonic depth of the Brazilian guitar tradition to the ensemble. A central element of this tradition is the seven-string guitar, which plays a defining role in the accompaniment and harmonic language of Brazilian music.

Mascha Corman, whose musical roots lie in jazz, has found in Brazilian music a rich and multifaceted field of expression, which she interprets with great sensitivity and stylistic openness.

The duo’s repertoire spans various eras and styles of Brazilian music — from Maxixe, Samba, and Choro to Bossa Nova. Alongside well-known classics, Duo Passarin is also dedicated to discovering and reinterpreting lesser-known works.