Dear music lovers

There’s something special about experiencing world-class musicians in an intimate setting, and that’s exactly what we have in store on Friday, 7 November, when the Karlsruhe Concert Duo returns to the Old Mission Church.

Cellist Reinhard Armleder and pianist Dagmar Hartmann have built an extraordinary reputation since founding their duo in 1999. Their touring schedule reads like a global atlas: 100 countries across all continents, with performances at venues ranging from the Verbier Festival in Switzerland to the Brisbane Music Festival in Australia. This year alone has seen them performing in Serbia, Slovakia, Portugal, Malta, Mexico and Colombia, among others. But here’s what makes this particularly exciting for us: they’ve chosen to return to Montagu, having performed here twice before to enthusiastic local audiences.

The program they’ve assembled is thoughtfully crafted, taking us on a musical journey that spans nearly two centuries. They’ll open with Beethoven’s Sonata in G minor, a work that showcases the composer’s revolutionary approach to the cello-piano partnership. From there, we move to the lyrical beauty of Tchaikovsky’s Mélodie from Souvenir d’un lieu cher, followed by Shostakovich’s Romance and Tarantella from The Gadfly Suite, pieces that demonstrate the emotional range these instruments can achieve together.

The second half introduces us to Nikolai Kapustin’s Burlesque, a composer who brilliantly fuses classical technique with jazz idioms. It’s an unexpected treat that reflects the duo’s commitment to imaginative programming. They’ll close with Brahms’s glorious Sonata in F major, a work of mature romanticism that never fails to move audiences.

What sets the Karlsruhe Concert Duo apart isn’t just their technical brilliance, though they’ve won numerous international competitions including the Lorenzo Perosi Competition in Italy and the Concours Pierre Lantier in Paris. It’s their interpretative depth that critics consistently praise. One review described their performances as “a sound and music experience that touches the soul,” and those of us who’ve heard them before know that this isn’t hyperbole.

Both musicians bring additional perspective to their artistry through their teaching roles at the Karlsruhe Conservatory and through masterclasses worldwide. This dual commitment to performance and education enriches their approach, making their concerts both technically stunning and deeply communicative.

The Old Mission Church provides the perfect acoustic environment for this repertoire, and opportunities to hear musicians of this calibre in our town are genuinely rare.

Don’t miss this evening of exceptional music making. Contact the Old Mission Church to secure your tickets or for further information about the concert.

Concert details:
Friday, 7 November
18h00 for 18h30
Old Mission Church, 41 Long Street, Montagu

Tickets (cash only)
Adults R150
Learners under 15 R50
Available from the Old Mission Church from Thursday, 16 October
+27 (0)23 614 1950

Kind regards,

Francois Tredoux

(on behalf of Montagu Music Society)

+27 (0)82 472 4989 (WhatsApp Messages)