It’s a mystery the root cause of the fact that Henri Vieuxtemps, César Franck, Eugène Ysaÿe and Guillaume Lekeu were all born in such a small territory between Liège and Aachen? Or is it merely the result of the popular music practice there at that time? Anyway, the region of Liège and Verviers gave musical heroes of international standard to Belgium: violinists, pianists and composers.
Vieuxtemps and Franck were dominant figures in the 19th century who united the best of two worlds, the Latin and the Germanic world, which at that time was not easily understood. We find this synthesis in the playing of Ysaÿe as well as in the composition of Lekeu.
Solid structures - not necessarily traditional - are combined with an abundant lyricism and an assumed virtuosity; the influence of the late Beethoven, of Wagner and of the Northern mist adjacent to the clarity and the sun of the South.
The duo Heyman-Bengi consists of the Belgian cellist Paul Heyman and the Turkish-Belgian pianist Işıl Bengi. These two passionate and dedicated artists find themselves in a musical expression which is both spontaneous and sophisticated, enriching their reading of works from the great classical repertoire as well as of contemporary works with a beneficial and inspiring authenticity. Dark, deep, expressive, virtuoso, brilliant, clear, delicate and powerful, the duo Heyman-Bengi moves away from the beaten tracks in search of the essence of these works.
