Press Reviews
Classical music at its finest in a piano factory in Berlin-Kreuzberg … But it was not played by some hobby artists from the neighborhood but rather from two high-class professional musicians.
The two musicians were skillful masters of their euphonious craftsmanship …
(Der Tagesspiegel Berlin)
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French music sparkled like champagne …
(Der Tagesspiegel Berlin)
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The Berlin-based pianist Susi Renée Lange-Kowal filled in for him; she did credit to her teacher, Professor Gerhard Puchelt, with her excellent adaptability.
(Inselkurier)
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The two artists clearly expressed their virtuosity and devotion to the music.
(Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung)
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The audience was enthused and only reluctantly dismissed D.O. after two encores, and a harmonious musical enjoyment finally came to its end. (Amrum News)
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The great harmony of the two artists really came across very well. “From the gypsy romance to the Csardas” …
(Amrum News)
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Duo Orpheo presented “Famous Wagner Melodies” and pleased the audience in Amrum with a harmonious evening.
(Amrum News)
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Time and again, chamber virtuoso Antoine Saad and Susanne Kowal are highly skilled at taking their listeners into the land of dreams and memories …
(S. Gleissner)
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Thunderous applause for the violin master.
(Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung, “Pablo de Sarasate” in the Kloster Stift zum Heiligengrabe)
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Mozart, Mozart – and Mozart once again … Duo Orpheo captivated the audience with ideal colors of sound …
(Westfälische Nachrichten)
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If Mozart would have followed up the presentations in his honor from his place in music heaven, he certainly would have been more than pleased.
(Nürnberger Nachrichten, on the occasion of Mozart´s 250th birthday)
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A real musical pleasure was the “Arpeggione Sonata” for viola and piano …
Saads viola sound was ravishingly beautiful …
(Cellesche Zeitung)
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The violin took the role of a passionate precentor, at times sensitive and impassioned, then again full of cantability and warmth.
(Cellesche Zeitung)
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The Berlin-based “Duo Orpheo” enthused their audience with a sophisticated concert.
Antoine Saad utilized the entire spectrum of musical forms of expression of violin and viola to interpret the multifaceted music of famous Russian masters in a convincing way. Of course the audience enforced several encores.
(Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung: Precious Treasures of Chamber Music)
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Little musical treasures composed by women, added by small dabs of poetry by poetesses of the epoch, were presented by Duo Orpheo in the church of Ribbeck.
Well-deserved applause prompted Duo Orpheo to add a Sicilienne as encore.
(Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung: In Ribbeck, Duo Orpheo evoked memories of “Women of Europe in Music and Poetry”)
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This time, Susanne Kowal had not only brought to light rarely performed musical pieces but also evidence of Goethe´s incredibly profound interest in and understanding of music. Together with her partner she presented nearly a dozen small musical treasures to their audience.
(Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung)
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With Antoine Saad, violin, and Susanne Kowal, piano, two artists were present who obviously have been interested in the “pearls of salon music” for some time already.
(Nordbayerischer Kurier: Almost like in a coffeehouse in Berlin – “Pearls of Salon Music” in the Steingraebersche Rokokosaal)
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“Incredible!”, “Enchanting!”, Exhilarating!” – these or similar words were used by the audience to appreciate the concert of “Duo Orpheo”. With their “Sarasate Evening”, they had captivated their audience to such a degree that the friends of chamber music decided to give a follow-up concert.
Antoine Saad displayed the full force of his virtuoso passion with the Hungarian Dances by Johannes Brahms …
(Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung)
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The Berlin-based Duo Orpheo fascinated the audience. The “Hungarian Fantasy” op.4 was received with prolonged applause. A particular highlight was the “Zigeunerweisen” (Gypsy Melodies) by Pablo de Sarasate. An unforgettable concert experience …
(Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung)
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Chamber music with Duo Orpheo
A wonderful, almost spring-like November day ended for the inhabitants of the residential home harmoniously with a concert in the theater hall. It wasn't the first time that the guest performers, Duo Orpheo, gave a concert in the residential home at the Tiergarten, but nonetheless they once again attracted a large number of visitors. The husband-and-wife duo, Antoine Saad (violin) and Susanne Kowal (piano), has more than a dozen programs at their disposal. This time the choice fell to the title “From the gypsy romance to the Csárdás”. This translated to a full hour of highly passionate, even racy music by László, Hubay, Johannes Brahms and others. Among the composers whose works were performed was also Franz Lehár, one of the operetta kings. His “Hungarian Fantasy” op. 45 proves that Lehár was capable of writing more than just nice operetta melodies. The skillful performance of all musical works left nothing to be desired. As a couple, the violinist and the pianist complement each other ideally. It was a pure, unalloyed pleasure to follow the tight and precise ensemble playing of these two partners, and to listen to the noble violin sound as well as the sparkling piano playing. In addition, both chamber musicians turned out to be quite adroit presenters who, with just a few words, added some interesting anecdotes around the program. Sarasate´s Gypsy Melodies op. 20 are the perfect “bouncer” to end a concert, but Duo Orpheo didn't want to dismiss their grateful audience without an encore. This evening can justifiably classify as a successful highlight in the concert chronicle of our residential home.