May 27, 2025 - 7:30pm
(doors open 6:45pm)
AS-DUO
Annette von Hehn (violin)
Stefan Heinemeyer (cello)
Annette von Hehn (violin) and Stefan Heinemeyer (cello) invite their audience on a musical journey filled with intimacy, passion, and subtle nuance. As celebrated members of the internationally renowned ATOS Trio, they have captivated audiences worldwide with their stirring interpretations and profound ensemble spirit. In this special concert, they now appear as a duo, opening new spaces for direct and unfiltered musical dialogue.
Their playing is shaped by deep familiarity, intuitive understanding, and a shared quest for perfect expression. Warmly timbred melodic lines, heartfelt cantilenas, and sparkling virtuosity combine to create a musical experience that touches both heart and soul.
With a richly varied and sensitively crafted program, they span the arc from virtuoso brilliance to deeply moving musical poetry – bringing the magic of chamber music to life in its purest form.
program
Allesandro Rolla –Duo for violin and cello in B-flat-major - Bl.244
Alessandro Rolla’s duo for violin and cello is a vibrant example of the virtuosity and expressive power of Classical chamber music. A contemporary of Mozart and teacher of Paganini, Rolla explores the full tonal range of both instruments in this work. Violin and cello engage in a lively dialogue, with melody and accompaniment constantly shifting roles. Especially in the final movement, shaped as a polonaise, Rolla’s flair for rhythmic finesse and melodic elegance shines through.
Arthur Honegger
– Sonatina for violin and cello - H. 80
Arthur Honegger, one of the leading figures of the group “Les Six”, combines classical clarity with modern expressiveness in his Sonatina. Sparse in scope but rich in nuances, he allows the two instruments to dance, fight and dream as if in an intimate dialog. Rhythmic sharpness, bright colors and quiet melancholy merge into music that is both modern and timeless.
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Rebecca Clarke
- Lullaby and Grotesque for violin and cello
Rebecca Clarke, one of the most important British composers of the early 20th century, combines subtle melodies with powerful contrasts in Lullaby and Grotesque for violin and cello. The Lullaby unfolds a gentle, slightly melancholy world of sound, while the Grotesque features erratic gestures, raw energy and virtuoso acuity. Clarke demonstrates her great mastery here in alternating between lyrical sensitivity and expressive wit - a fascinating miniature diptych of great emotional density.
Zoltan Kodály
- Duo for violin and cello - op.7
Zoltán Kodály composed his Duo for Violin and Violoncello, op. 7, in 1914 - on the eve of the First World War. During this turbulent time, he was searching for his own musical language, deeply rooted in Hungarian folk music - a captivating testimony to Kodály's creative independence and his love for the musical tradition of his homeland. After its premiere in Budapest, the Kodály Duo quickly became a classic for violin and cello.