Two of the most highly esteemed classical musicians in Denmark form a duo - both on stage and privately. Violinist Christina Åstrand and pianist Per Salo have been making music together for more than 25 years. In the duo’s many recitals in Denmark and abroad and on their numerous CD recordings, Danish music plays an important part.
About Åstrand/Salo
Åstrand and Salo are known for their ability to create versatile programs in which the classical masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart are programmed along with exiting Danish repertoire as well as with the lesser known music from the 20th century. In the opinion of Duo Åstrand/Salo the chamber music for violin and piano is virtually music written for two soloists; it demands a huge amount of musical energy and technical strength - due to the fact that the two instruments involved are of such contrasting nature.
Repertoire
CLASSICS
Mozart Beethoven Kuhlau
Mendelsohn Gade Schubert
Schumann Hartmann Brahms
Kreisler Franck Strauss Delius
Janacek Debussy Ravel Nielsen
CONTEMPORARY
Stravinski Schönberg Webern
Ligeti Ives Langgaard Bentzon
Nørgård Ruders Piazzolla
Gudmundsen-Holmgreen Koppel
Abrahamsen Gravgaard-Madsen
Finding common threads through their concert repertoire is a clear aim of the Åstrand-Salo Duo.
Current
Last year Duo Åstrand/Salo’s recording of Allan Gravgaard Madsen’s brand new double concerto ‘NACHTMUSIK’ was released. It was performed together with The Danish National Symphony Orchestra. The piece is dedicated to Åstrand and Salo and was composed in collaboration with the two musicians
Duo Åstrand/Salo will perform Haydns double concerto and Tabula Rasa by Arvo Pärt in August with String Orchestra of Northerns Jutland.
In 2020 Duo Åstrand/Salo commissioned a series of short texts from the Danish writer Jens Christian Grøndahl; the texts are inspired by Olivier Messiaen’s moving work Quartet for The End of Time. The Duo just recorded the music which will be released along with the new texts in 2021. The two additional musicians are colleagues from The Danish National Symphony Orchestra, solo clarinetist Johnny Teyssiers and solo cellist Henrik Dam Thomsen
Recordings
Gravgaard Madsen
Nachtmusik
Friedrich Kuhlau
Violin Sonatas Vol 2
Ravel - Bloch - Janacek
Violin SonatasThe two musicians
In addition to their collaboration in Duo Åstrand/Salo Christina Åstrand and Per Salo are pursuing each their career as soloists .They are also appearing in different chamber music ensembles. Recently, in collaboration with two colleagues from The Danish National Symphony Orchestra, they have performed and recorded Olivier Messiaen’s ”Quartet for the End of Time” in a new version with texts by Danish writer Jens Christian Grøndahl.And together with oboist Radi Radev and cellist Therese Åstrand Radev they have formed Ensemble Stralo that is founded both on professional collaboration and family bonds.
Ernest Bloch: excerpt from Poème Mystique, performed in 2012 in the Concert Hall of the Danish Radio / Christina Åstrand, violin - Per Salo, piano
The collaboration means music that in its tenderness and expression generates a romantic freshness that is ideal to listen to just now.
The unpeccable performance by the soloists Christina Åstrand and Per Salo and The DR Symphony Orchestra invites the listener to venture into a new sound dimension.
The performance by Åstrand and Salo under Ryan Bancroft is extremely accomplished, and the sound quality ... is wonderfully detailed and well balanced.