The summer of 1886 was one of the most prolific in the life of Johannes Brahms. The alpine grandeur of Lake Thun and Brahms’ buoyant holiday mood conjured up so many melodies that he declared he was “afraid to step on them.” In a few weeks’ time, Brahms produced two of his major chamber works, the Cello Sonata op. 99 and the Violin Sonata op. 100, that suits the cello delightfully. These chamber icons are aptly coupled to Schubert’s blissfully uplifting Sonata D 574. Wispelwey and Giacometti have been called “exceptionally imaginative and impassioned performers” (American Record Guide), and their collaboration has spawned recordings rated as “fascinating, provocative, almost perverse” (Sunday Times). The first installment of the Duo Pilgrimage was hailed a “successful launch” (Kulturradio) on account of the “unspoken complicity between two virtuosi… who accomplish a sparkling, playful, cantabile account.” (Cobra.be)
