Giannouli / Bärtsch: Metakosmos

Tania Giannouli and Nik Bärtsch have been performing together as a piano duo since 2023. Both are open to influences and traditions; their art and passion are also nourished by the chamber music of the classical tradition, the true spirit of folk music, the devotion to the ritual structures of sacred music, as well as the innovative creativity and urge for freedom that jazz demands. Their rhythmic energy is shaped by the heritage of Balkan music and by the rhythmic traditions that developed on percussion instruments such as the cimbalom. The intellectual and musical backgrounds of these two artists have now naturally merged after long individual paths, giving rise to a shared sonic philosophy that is firmly rooted in the present. The eight pieces on this album present an organic and effortless distillation of all these aspects.