Anja Lechner, François Couturier

On Lontano, Anja Lechner (cello) and François Couturier (piano) expand the expressive horizons of the duo format, weaving a tapestry of original compositions, improvisations, and deeply personal interpretations. Recorded at Sendesaal Bremen and produced by Manfred Eicher, the album draws inspiration from a remarkable array of sources-echoes of Bach, the folk laments of Argentina, the lyricism of Henri Dutilleux, the cinematic touch of Anouar Brahem, and the haunting minimalism of Giya Kancheli.

Lechner and Couturier’s interplay is both intimate and adventurous, dissolving the boundaries between composition and improvisation. Their music is described as “singing in a voice of its own,” where atmospheric and expressive connections emerge between far-flung traditions and new forms are born in the moment. The duo’s approach is marked by a spiritual yearning and meditative depth, at times achingly beautiful, at others gently discordant, always inviting the listener into a contemplative sound world.

Lontano stands as a testament to the duo’s unique artistic vision, where every note is shaped by patient experience and a profound sense of shared discovery. The result is an album that transcends genre, offering a flow of music that is as evocative as it is unclassifiable-a journey “afar,” in every sense of the word.

Released by ECM Records, Lontano is a captivating new chapter in the ongoing collaboration between two of Europe’s most distinctive musical voices.