When does the concert start

The concert starts at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, with doors opening at 7:00 PM.

How long does the concert last

The scheduled duration is about two hours until approximately 9:30 PM including short breaks.

What works are on the program

The program includes Brahms Sonata Op. 78 in G major, Debussy's Sonata for Violin and Piano, and Franck's Sonata in A major.

Is there information about ticket prices

Specific ticket prices have not been published. Sales are conducted through Ticket Scharf, further information to follow.

How to get to and park at Villa Sawallisch

Access via the A8 exit Bernau and B305 to Grassau. There are only a few parking spaces at the house, free parking is available in town.

Is the location wheelchair accessible

Parts of the house are accessible only by stairs, wheelchair-accessible seats are limited. Please contact Villa Sawallisch in advance if needed.

Two Masters, One Evening: Poppen and Nishikawa Enchant Grassau with Sound Poetry

Name: Dream and Awakening: Christoph Poppen & Tomoko Nishikawa
Start: 2026-01-06T20:30:00+00:00
End: 2026-01-06T22:30:00+00:00
Location: Villa Sawallisch, Hinterm Bichl 2, 83224 Grassau

Dream and Awakening in Villa Sawallisch: Violin and Piano in an Intense Dialogue

On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Christoph Poppen and Tomoko Nishikawa will transform Villa Sawallisch in Grassau into a resonant space for great chamber music. Two internationally renowned artists shape a concentrated concert experience between lyrical intimacy and dramatic expansiveness.

Sound Colors that Tell Stories

The live atmosphere carries: warm wood reflections, fine hall light, precise acoustics. Poppen and Nishikawa paint musical pictures with fluid tone, elastic phrasing, and clever orchestration in duo. Every entry is spot on, the synchronization remains transparent, and the sound stays natural.

Stage Art and Ensemble Play

Poppen, an award-winning violinist and conductor, brings his sense of form and transitions. Nishikawa, an award-winning pianist and sought-after chamber music partner, shapes lines with vibrant articulation and cultivated pedal. The result: a stage performance that keeps structure and emotion in balance.

Acoustics and Atmosphere of the Villa

The intimate hall size of Villa Sawallisch fosters closeness and audience mood. Short reverberation times allow nuances to breathe, crescendos have a direct impact, and pianissimos appear silky. This creates a concert experience that conveys every gesture to the last row.

Setlist and Program

The program features three milestones of violin literature: Brahms Sonata Op. 78 in G major, Debussy's late Sonata for Violin and Piano, and Franck's Sonata in A major. Stylistically, the evening transitions from late Romantic cantabile to impressionistic color games to the cyclical dramaturgy of French high Romanticism.

Context and Classification

Poppen shapes international stages as music director and festival leader; Nishikawa teaches at the Munich University of Music and accompanies prestigious competitions. This expertise is reflected in the sensitive interpretation of works, the secure conducting of the bows, and in chamber music discipline.

Conclusion

Expect a concentrated, emotionally charged duo evening with strong narrative power and detailed sound poetry. Those who want to experience chamber music directly should reserve in advance and let Brahms, Debussy, and Franck accompany them into this winter night.