Poetry and Landscapes – Aros Guitar Duo

Sønderho Church, Fanø. Monday 3rd August 2026 at 7.30 pm

SINGLE TICKETS

All-inclusive Festival Ticket KR. 700,-

Poetry and Landscapes –
Aros Guitar Duo 

Martin Lohse (b. 1971): Ver

Rasmus Zwicki (b. 1979): Wild and Wonderful Denmark Suite

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759): Passacaglia from Suite No. 7

Robert Schumann (1810–1856): Excerpts from Kinderszenen, Op. 15

Franz Schubert (1797–1828): Impromptu in G-flat major, Op. 90 No. 3, D. 899

Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992): Oblivion

Aros Guitar Duo
Mikkel Egelund Nielsen & Simon Wildau

Poetry and Landscapes – Aros Guitar Duo, comprises the guitarists Mikkel Egelund Nielsen and Simon Wildau, in a programme that spans more than three centuries of music. Moving effortlessly between contemporary Scandinavian voices, Baroque elegance, Romantic poetry and the unmistakable atmosphere of Argentine tango, the concert reveals the remarkable versatility and expressive richness of the guitar duo repertoire.

Aros Guitar Duo has earned a reputation as one of Denmark’s leading guitar ensembles. Their performances are distinguished by technical refinement, musical sensitivity and an ability to uncover unexpected connections between composers and styles. The guitar, often associated with intimacy and direct expression, becomes in their hands an instrument capable of extraordinary colour and orchestral richness.

The programme Poetry and Landscapes – Aros Guitar Duo opens with two contemporary Danish works that reflect different aspects of the Nordic musical imagination. Martin Lohse’s Ver unfolds with the quiet concentration and subtle harmonic language that have become hallmarks of the composer’s style. Lohse’s music often invites listeners into a contemplative sound world where small gestures acquire remarkable emotional significance. His work has been performed widely across Europe and has established him as one of Denmark’s most distinctive contemporary composers.

In contrast, Rasmus Zwicki’s Wild and Wonderful Denmark Suite paints a vibrant musical portrait of Denmark’s landscapes, traditions and character. Rich in atmosphere and colour, the suite demonstrates how contemporary composers continue to draw inspiration from nature and national identity while speaking in a modern musical language. Through the warm sonorities of two guitars, the work evokes both intimacy and grandeur.

Poetry and Landscapes – Aros Guitar Duo then turns to Handel’s Passacaglia, one of the great masterpieces of the Baroque era. Built upon a repeating bass pattern, the work unfolds through a sequence of increasingly imaginative variations. Handel’s gift for melody and dramatic contrast transforms a simple musical idea into something both elegant and compelling. Transcribed for two guitars, the Passacaille reveals new shades of colour while retaining the brilliance and vitality of the original.

The Romantic spirit emerges in excerpts from Schumann’s Kinderszenen, among the most beloved collections in the piano repertoire. Composed in 1838, the work is not so much about childhood itself as about the adult memory of childhood. Schumann captures moments of innocence, wonder and reflection with extraordinary economy and poetic imagination. The music’s intimacy and emotional honesty translate beautifully to the guitar duo medium.

At the centre of the programme stands Schubert’s Impromptu in G-flat major, one of the most treasured works of the Romantic era. Few composers possessed Schubert’s gift for melody, and nowhere is it more evident than in this seemingly effortless masterpiece. Beneath its serene surface lies a profound emotional depth, characteristic of a composer who could transform the simplest musical idea into something unforgettable. The transcription for two guitars allows the inner voices and harmonic subtleties of the work to emerge with particular clarity.

The evening concludes with Astor Piazzolla’s Oblivion, one of the Argentine composer’s most famous and moving works. Written in 1982 for a film soundtrack, Oblivion combines the melancholy and nostalgia of the tango with a timeless lyrical beauty. Its haunting melody unfolds with extraordinary simplicity, creating an atmosphere of longing and reflection. As the final notes fade, the work provides a deeply affecting conclusion to a programme that has travelled from Nordic landscapes and Baroque elegance to Romantic introspection and South American passion.

Set within the intimate surroundings of Sønderho Church on Fanø, this concert offers a unique opportunity to experience the guitar duo repertoire at the highest level. Through music that spans continents, centuries and cultures, Aros Guitar Duo demonstrates the enduring power of melody, imagination and musical storytelling.