Magdalena Kožená & Yefim Bronfman by Various, Noiztik (2022/2022), Helsinki Music Centre, Helsinki, Finland

In addition to their acclaimed talent, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and pianist Yefim Bronfman will bring references to European folk music traditions to the stage at the Helsinki Music Centre through the works of renowned composers and their own poetic expression. The duo will perform pieces by Brahms, Musorgski, Bartók and Shostakovich. Their album Nostalgia, released last year, features recordings of works by the first three of these. The pieces express the joys of wedding parties and childhood play between moments of innocence and cunning. The renowned music magazine Gramophone praised the mezzo-soprano Kožená as being “in prime form” and described the pianist Bronfman as having a virtuoso’s touch equal to the challenges of Brahms. Such plaudits are to be expected. Kožená and Bronfman are known for their nuanced interpretations, which are both nostalgic and clever and capture Bartók’s Slavic festivities as well as Shostakovich’s satirical references to polka. Programme notes » Magdalena Kožená, mezzo-soprano Yefim Bronfman, piano