The musical partnership between Sol Gabetta and Bertrand Chamayou has lasted for more than a decade. Both born in 1981, they share the same zodiac sign as well as many musical passions—Chopin, for example, to whom they dedicated an album in 2015, and Mendelssohn, whose complete works for cello and piano they recorded, weaving in contemporary composers to create a dialogue between past and present.

Their concert in Bologna reflects the concept of this album: framed by Mendelssohn’s Variations op. 17 and Sonata op. 57, the program features “variations” on his Lied ohne Worte composed by Wolfgang Rihm and Jörg Widmann, with Brahms’ vigorous and energetic Sonata No. 2 at its core.