Early classical simplicity

Original works for harp and piano are rare in today's concert repertoire. On their new double CD, Duo Praxedis present a whole bouquet of such pieces and had to visit many international libraries to find them. Pianist Praxedis Geneviève Hug and her mother, harpist Praxedis Hug-Rütti, present a considerable number of today's rather unknown composers on their latest production. Who still knows François-Adrien Boieldieu, Francçis-Joseph Dizi, Johann Baptist Krumpholz, Guillaume Gatayes, Daniel Steibel or Federigo Fiorillo? The best known is probably Johann Nepomuk Hummel - and his five Rondoletti act as links on the two CDs, each contrasting with the single- or multi-movement duet compositions of his contemporaries.

The concept works: The two interpreters can unfold their full stylistic agility here in a fresh environment. They outdo each other in their sparkling, unpretentious joy of playing. Which is no contradiction to their extremely detailed precision. So one is reliably amazed and revels in the unspent freshness that emerges from the esprit of early classical melodies in such a multifaceted way.

The superficial "simplicity" of early classical expressive aesthetics comes across here as a great richness - precisely because both interpreters draw so much passion and honesty from it. Praxedis Hug-Rütti's harp develops filigree and finely ramified garlands of notes, while Praxedis Geneviève Hug's vital piano touch provides lively propulsion. The music is at times song-like and cheerful, for long stretches also lively and fast-paced, then again delicately melancholic. These musical dialogs are harmony and never confrontation.

Manifold melodic strokes of genius, humorous punchlines and a great deal of grace - all this flowed from the pens of the composers of the time. This music should be communicative togetherness and never self-expression. The Duo Praxedis has grasped this principle intuitively - and creates light-flooded, addictive moments! The outstanding sonic transparency of this production also convincingly rounds off the maturity of this exceptional duo.