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ECHOES
Duets for Soprano, Mezzo Soprano & Piano

Where did you get the idea to record this CD together?

Katharina Konradi (KK): I always found it fascinating to sing songs in duet with someone or in an ensemble. And there are so many folk songs people can sing together in the family circle or at parties with friends. When you share the same text and melody simultaneously with other people, it becomes a powerful, meditative experience – and such experiences form a bond among us. Catriona apparently had the same idea, so we embarked on the same joint path, particularly since we often share the stage and really enjoy singing together.

Catriona Morison (CM): I started my musical training in a girls’ choir in Edinburgh when I was very young and later played the violin and viola, so I have always enjoyed singing in ensembles and playing chamber music. Duet song repertoire is really an extension of that, Katharina and I actually met back in 2012 through one of our old singing teachers from Berlin. After our studies, it took us in different directions, we then both became BBC New Generation Artists, overlapping for a short time in 2019/20. I saw an opportunity to get to know this repertoire better, and approached Katharina who luckily had the same passion and excitement for collaboration.

That was the beginning of our musical partnership, which has grown and developed since then. There are not so many duos who perform this repertoire currently, and it’s too much of a shame for this fantastic music not to be heard.

Ammiel Bushakevitz: AB: In the end it is a question of musical consensus and compatibility. I can say that in this case, I feel enormously honoured to work with two masters of their domains who are not only technically in complete control, but also know how to prepare in order to be as productive as possible. We had a lot of fun rehearsing and recording. As for my role at the piano, it is a homogenous mixture of following and leading. When accompanying one singer I can always just breathe together with the singer, but since two voices are involved here, I need to choose when to allow time for breathing and when not to offer any time so that we can sustain the musical drive. It is a wonderful process and quite thrilling.
(from the booklet’s Interview)