Levitation (Tobias Preisig & Stefan Rusconi)

Exactly ten years ago, Swiss musicians Tobias Preisig (violin, fx) and Stefan Rusconi (piano, organ) released their album “LEVITATION“: an intense sonic expedition into higher spheres, performed live during the 2018 Summer Festival inside St. Gertrud Church within a fog installation by director Thom Luz. This February, the two award-winning musicians returned to St. Gertrud for several days to record their second album, “Palimpsest”, live on location. The result: seven pieces in which a subtly pulsating dialogue of church organ, violin and electronics makes the weightlessness implied by “LEVITATION” almost physically tangible. It is music of transcendental dimension – and a compelling high point in two remarkable careers. Preisig's work spans club duo Egopusher, solo albums, film scores and collaborations with The Cinematic Orchestra and Colin Stetson. Rusconi's ranges from the Keith Jarrett movie “Köln 75” and live compositions for choreographer Meg Stuart to Jazz Echo-winning studio albums. In one of several Summer Festival concerts at St. Gertrud, the two once again embark on a "journey of the soul that can be understood as a prayer" (Hamburger Abendblatt).