At the beautiful concert hall, Venskaben i Asker, four singers and two pianists come together in their shared passion for the Lieder and romances of the Romantic era.

The vocal quartets with four-hand piano accompaniment emerged in the 19th century as a fascinating expansion of the Lied and romance genres. Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann led the way in this form, where four singers performed song after song, often in waltz time, in various combinations of solos, duets, trios, and quartets. The four-hand piano accompaniment became a new and vital element, enriching the music with texture and emotional depth, allowing for both playfulness and heartfelt expression.

Alongside Brahms’ Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65, Gisle Kverndokk’s Singing Night, written specifically for this ensemble, will also be performed. Singing Night carries on the vocal quartet tradition but with a modern perspective. Inspired by the great masters of Romanticism and the many facets of love, Kverndokk has created a vibrant and life-affirming song cycle based on eight love poems by Harald Sverdrup. With singable melodies, masterful handling of the texts, and a unique fusion of genres, Singing Night invites us into a musical universe where tradition and modernity blend in beautiful harmony.

Program:
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Neue Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 65
Selected pieces for four-hand piano

Gisle Kverndokk (b. 1967)
Singing Night — Love Waltzes and a Tango (2023)
Texts by Harald Sverdrup (1923–1992)

Performers:
Isa Katharina Gericke, soprano
Melis Jaatinen, mezzo-soprano
William Wallace, tenor
Halvor Festervoll Melien, baritone
Juho Alakärppä & Thormod Rønning Kvam, piano