Various Composers - i wish i were dead (Duo Étrange)

Information

• Fong Jeffrey - Dans un sentier tout parfumé
• Fong Jeffrey - Danger, peur, honte
• Luna Pearl Woolf - Rumi, Quatrains of Love
• Anders Hillborg - Kväll (arr. Duo Étrange)
• Airat Ichmouratov - Quatrains of Wisdom after Omar Khayyam's Rubáiyát, Op. 82
• Maya Fridman - Tree of Life (Duo Version)
• Laurence Jobidon - Simone: mythe moderne
• Nicole Lizee - Urbexcelsis (Doesn't It Fill Your Eyes)

Duo Étrange

    Sahara Von Hattenberger, cello

    Vanessa Croome, soprano

Joanne Kang, piano

Airat Ichmouratov, clarinet & duduk

Date: 2026

Label: ATMA Classique

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i wish i were dead is a daring contemporary classical album by Duo Étrange that champions music by living composers while challenging assumptions about artistic legacy and recognition. Blending heritage and innovation, the recording offers an intimate yet powerful dialogue between voice and cello, creating an immersive and accessible experience for diverse audiences. The program features commissioned and existing works that span ancient influences and modern expression, grounded in tonality and form. Highlights include the world premiere of Nicole Lizée’s Urbexcelsis alongside compositions by Airat Ichmouratov, Laurence Jobidon, Fong Jeffrey, Luna Pearl Woolf, Maya Fridman, and Anders Hillborg, exploring themes of mortality, spirituality, and love.

Duo Étrange is an award-winning voice and cello ensemble founded in 2023 by cellist Sahara von Hattenberger and soprano Vanessa Croome, dedicated to commissioning and performing new works for their distinctive instrumentation. Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and recipients of the 2025 New Music USA Creator Fund, the duo has quickly established an international presence with appearances at leading venues and festivals, and upcoming engagements scheduled through 2027. Their interdisciplinary collaborations and artistic residencies reflect a commitment to innovation, including new arrangements and commissioned works. An upcoming New Music USA–supported project will feature a song collection by emerging composer Kebra Seyoun-Charles.