In 1874, Heinrich von Herzogenberg (1843-1900) hosted a Brahms festival in Leipzig, where the two men became friends. Brahms (1833-1897) also met Julius Röntgen (1855-1932) there. Subsequently, the three men rubbed shoulders in what became known as the Brahms circle. The group’s meetings allowed Brahms to try out works before they were premiered or published. This network was essential to Brahms’s recognition, but its role is little known as its members, dominated by ideas of genius and inspiration, blotted out the traces of their help to let their idol shine alone. With this programme, Isabel Gehweiler and Fiona Hengartner shed light on the circle that played a decisive role in bringing Brahms into the repertoire but also produced other top-quality composers who had unjustly fallen into oblivion.
The "Notre amour" CD offers a musical experience to feel love in all its forms, with a selection of works by Swiss and French composers. This programme resonates with the emotions associated with love in all its diversity, be it romantic, friendly, familial, unconditional or spiritual. It celebrates the complexity and beauty of this feeling that transcends time and culture, revealing its infinite depth through musical gems performed by Isabel Gehweiler on cello and Fiona Hengartner on piano.
Recorded in 2021, the CD “Music for 4 Musicians” presents a repertoire that reflects multiple shades of contemporary classical music. Although classically written, the individual musical pieces flirt playfully combining different styles and thus are an excellent representation of current cultural evolution. This programme invites itself into jazz clubs, brushes up against Latin rhythms and browses through repetitive-minimalist music.