Duo Lamorniana
Ute Weickenmeier – piano
Ricarda Schmidt – viola

The Programme

‘Poetry Without Words’

Romanze (Romance) in G major, Op 40

from ‘Dichterliebe’, Op 48
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
(In the wondrous month of May)
Ich grolle nicht
(I bear no grudge)
Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen
(One bright summer morning)

Fratres

Andante e rondo ungarese, Op 35

The Artists

Duo Lamorniana are named after their Cornish home hamlet, Lamorna. Ricarda Schmidt, viola and Ute Weickenmeier, piano, have both worked as professional musicians at opera houses throughout Germany, Ricarda as deputy principal violist in the orchestra and Ute as répétiteur; since 2017 they have dedicated themselves to chamber music together. With a classical music repertoire, Duo Lamorniana play in and around Cornwall, more recently in Italy, London venues and Edinburgh’s Fringe. In 2018, they founded the Lamorniana Proms concert series, which continues every year.
www.duolamorniana.com

Duo Lamorniana write…
‘Poetry Without Words’
Centrepiece of our little concert are excerpts from Robert Schumann’s epic song cycle ‘Dichterliebe’, one of the most poetic cycles ever written, with music that doesn’t seem to need words, which is why we will perform it in a version for viola and piano – the viola being so close to the human voice. Schumann and Beethoven never met, but Schumann admired Beethoven throughout his life. The two composers shared a deep kinship. They also shared certain views and both also took a keen interest in the events of their time.

Beethoven and Weber shared a number of similarities, too, including a strong passion for music, a significant role in the transition from the Classical Era to Romanticism, and a certain mutual appreciation and inspiration. Both left a profound impact on the musical world.

What might connect these three in addition to all their similarities, and how does the contemporary composer Arvo Pärt fit into this picture? The answer cannot be expressed in words – but it lies in the poetry that all four possess in their own unique form.