Lieben Sie Brahms?

Mikayel Balyan and Edoardo Torbianelli piano

Programme:
Johannes Brahms: Waltzes, Op. 39, for four hands; Ballades, Op. 10, Nos. 1 and 2; Intermezzi, Op. 117, Nos. 1 and 3; Hungarian Dance No. 2 in D minor
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Andante and Variations in B flat major, Op. 83a
Robert Schumann: »Bilder aus Osten« (Pictures from the East), Op. 66
Niels Gade: Four Fantasy Pieces, Op. 41

Piano duets are arguably the most intimate form of chamber music. Both performers must be aware of each other’s inner workings at the piano in order to combine them with clockwork precision. Mikayel Balyan and Edoardo Torbianelli are masters of this art, offering highlights from the genre. Brahms, for example took, inspiration from Hungarian dances and Viennese waltzes, elevating his compositions above the salon music of his time. Without resorting to Arabic scales, Schumann’s »Bilder aus Osten« (Pictures from the East) evokes the poetry and spirituality of the Orient. Danish composer Niels Wilhelm Gade lived in Leipzig for many years and was friends with Schumann as well as a connoisseur of Mendelssohn’s work. While admiring both composers, he still added his own distinctive touches to his fantasy pieces. When Mikayel Balyan and Edoardo Torbianelli demonstrate their extensive four-handed skills, it becomes clear why the piano duet was so popular in the 19th century homes…

in cooperation with the district of Cuxhaven