After years of collaboration, the renowned young virtuosi cellist Benedict Klöckner and pianist Danae Dörken tour with their debut duo album, Between Nostalgia and Revolution. Their recital at the celebrated Süreyya Opera House features works by Schumann, Shostakovich, and Martinů.
Klöckner explains the programme on the Ariel Artists website: ‘Robert Schumann’s works for violoncello and piano have accompanied and inspired me ever since I started playing the cello. It was our wish to combine works by Schumann with 20th century compositions that shared his spirit of innovation, his love for the music of the past (in particular that of Johann Sebastian Bach) and his efforts to achieve a simplicity of expression a “folk style” that, in its approachability and highest artistic standard, appealed to the public’s interest back then.’
Performing on an Italian Cello by Francesco Rugeri (Cremona 1690), formerly played by Maurice Gendron Klöckner is one of the most highly regarded musicians of his generation.
The 29-year-old German-Greek pianist Danae Dörken was supported by Yehudi Menuhin when she was seven and was soon causing a stir in European concert halls. In 2020 she founded the Molyvos International Music Festival (MIMF) in 2015 together with her sister on the island of Lesbos (Midili Adası). See her biography and a selection of videos here.
Borusan Quartet: Colours of the Storm Age
Issue 66, December 2023
Turkey’s Centenary Issue
