When you have been making music together as intensively as Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov for as long as they have, then it's time to get down to business: The two Violin Sonatas op. 105 and op. 121 were composed by Düsseldorf music director Schumann within a few days in 1851, at a time when he was in constant conflict with unmotivated musicians and singers and was slowly slipping into an existential crisis. The passionate works are accompanied by Brahms' last chamber music, the second of the two sonatas op. 120, and by two works by Webern and Kurtág. Their concentrated miniatures form a pointed contrast to the flowing "Liberated Time" of the three large sonatas.

This will be followed by an artist talk with Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov, led by Anselm Cybinski in the festival center.

Program adjustment: Instead of Robert Schumann's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in A minor op. 105, the first piece will be Johannes Brahms' Sonata for Clarinet or Viola and Piano in F minor op. 120 No. 1.