Bilder aus Osten (Images from the East), Op. 66, is a set of six Impromptus for piano four hands, composed in 1848 by Robert Schumann as a Christmas gift for his beloved Clara. The music was inspired by Die Makamen des Hariri, which was translated by Friedrich Rückert. Schumann compared the main character, Abu Seid, to the German folk figure Till Eulenspiegel. Schumann wrote that his aim in these pieces was “to express Eastern poetry and thought in our own art, as has already been done in German poetry”. His impromptus are six gems, characterised by their lyrical, folksy and lively characters. These two wonderful pianists are sure to give an imaginative performance!

Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 7 in F major, Op. 59, No. 1 (‘Razumovsky’), composed in 1806, revolutionised chamber music with its symphonic scope, technical demands and intense emotional depth. It is the first of three quartets commissioned by the Russian ambassador in Vienna, Count Razumovsky. As a tribute to his patron, Beethoven incorporated a Russian theme into the final movement. The cello plays a special role in this quartet, introducing the main themes as a protagonist of the story. As is often the case with Beethoven, the breathtaking slow movement is music of the utmost tenderness: unfathomably deep humanity, moving and a deeply personal confession. 

A concert with musical encounters and dialogues that Resonances musicians have been looking forward to for months: not to be missed!