“[Contemporary] music is very experimental and is based on concepts, ideas and very long verbal explanations rather than being music that actually moves you emotionally and makes you feel something,” said cellist Sahara von Hattenberger. “There's nothing wrong with the avant-garde, but we’re trying to do music that's beautiful.”
For von Hattenberger and soprano Vanessa Croome, who were both trained at McGill University’s prestigious Schulich School of Music, classical music should never feel elitist or impenetrable to listeners.
During their first Island tour in early December, this unlikely duo from Montreal aims to redefine classical music in a unique way, making it accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Named Duo Etrange (French for Strange Duo), von Hattenberger explained that their ensemble’s name stems from the unusual combination of the two artists' disciplines.
“Instrumentalists rarely work with singers,” she said. “The only time that an instrumentalist might associate with the singer is if maybe they're an accompanist, like a pianist.”
Despite this interdisciplinary divide, von Hattenberger, awestruck by a piece from the late British composer John Tavener that blended a soprano’s voice with a cello’s melody, reached out to Croome to propose a collaboration.
In 2021, the two started working together, but one major roadblock hindered them from progressing as fast as they wanted.
“We quickly discovered that there was really no music written for cello and soprano; it just doesn't exist,” she said.
Drawing inspiration from a wide range of cultures and eras, the two artists summoned the help of composers to create commissioned works and expand their repertoire.
Showcasing the music of John Tavener, Luna Pearl Woolf, Jeffrey Fong, and David Lang among others, the duo believes their carefully curated playlist will captivate everyone, from casual listeners to classical music aficionados, said von Hattenberger.
“Even if people aren't big into classical music they're gonna really like it. You don't have to know classical to understand or to enjoy. It's all really beautiful and emotional music.
“There's everything from extreme opera-sounding stuff to songs that almost sound like folk [music].”
Croome and von Hattenberger, born and raised in Nanaimo and the Comox Valley respectively, are preparing to head west for what they’ve nicknamed their "homecoming tour." Kicking off on Hornby Island on Dec. 2, their concert series will conclude at Saanich's First Unitarian Church of Victoria (5575 West Saanich Rd.) on Dec. 8.
Following the tour, the duo will head back east, do a few shows in New York where von Hattenberger currently lives, and record and launch their second album in Montreal.
With lofty goals in mind, the two artists are resolute in spreading their passion for music well beyond the borders of North America.
“We want to tour the world [and] bring this music everywhere,” she said. “We want to show people that vocal music, especially the opera style of singing, can be really wonderful to listen to. One of our missions is to make vocal music accessible to people.”
For more information about Duo Etrange or to buy tickets for their Island tour, visit duoetrange.co.
