Johannsson, Johann : 12 Conversations with Thilo Heinzman

Is the creative process of a composer essentially the same as that of a visual artist painting a picture? Jóhann Jóhannsson and Berlin-based painter Thilo Heinzmann explored this profound question during a four-year dialogue. The musical result is a 12-part string quartet that stands out significantly among Jóhannsson's award-winning works. Jóhannsson was "obsessed with the texture of sound" and regularly broke down the boundaries between classical and electronic music. With his eclectic style, he created hypnotic, lyrical, and highly refined images. The sensitivity and beauty of Jóhannsson's pure string quartet composition in 12 Conversations reveal what could be called the essence of his sound.

After Jóhannsson's sudden passing in February 2018, his long-time musical collaborators Echo Collective (currently on tour with Joep Beving as Henosis) brought the score to life through their previous performance experiences (Orphée) and through discussions with the composer himself about this exceptional body of work.