Stefan Kraft (Kulturhaus Schwanen, Stadt Waiblingen)
Winnenderstraße 4, 71334 Waiblingen
**Sönke Meinen & Bjarke Falgren** blend neoclassical, jazz, folk, and global sounds into a poetic, groove-driven concert evening that combines refined chamber music, narrative openness, and playful virtuosity.
Opening act: Duo BrixelWitowski
When Sönke Meinen and Bjarke Falgren play together, the result is music that doesn’t dwell on boundaries. Here, the guitar and violin do not meet as opposites, but as two voices that give each other space, propel one another forward, circle around each other, and catch each other again. Their new album, “The Circle,” embodies this concept right in its title: circular movements, return, exchange, shared energy. At times it feels almost like chamber music; at others, it’s bouncy and rhythmic; and then again, it’s open, expansive, and tinged with folk, jazz, or Nordic timbres.
Both musicians bring their own distinctive styles to the table. Danish violinist Bjarke Falgren also works as a composer for film and theater productions and is considered one of Scandinavia’s leading voices at the intersection of jazz, improvisation, and narrative instrumental music. Sönke Meinen has made a name for himself with his acoustic guitar far beyond the fingerstyle scene: with precision, a clear tone, and a musicality that never veers into mere technique. As a duo, this results in a concert that remains accessible, even as it is performed with the highest level of technical skill.
At the Schwanen, this music finds a space that allows for concentration without becoming stiff. This fits perfectly with an evening that relies not on spectacle, but on sound, interplay, and presence.
The supporting act, Duo Brixel Witowski, also fits in seamlessly: violin and acoustic guitar, lyrical instrumental pieces, folk influences, jazzy tones, and a keen sense of melody. The result is a concert evening that doesn’t need to be loud to leave a lasting impression.