Gwen Cresens and Philippe Thuriot

A modern accordion duo, with solid improvisational outbursts. For the first time, two Belgian master accordionists Gwen Cresens en Philippe Thuriot are working together with their accordions, a bandoneon, and a harmonica. They each play solo, but also together from the repertoire of their recent solo albums. In addition, they also share a great love for the false musette and baroque music. Or jazz in the spirit of their hero, Toots Thielemans. Gwen Cresens first heard the accordion on the street at the cathedral of Antwerp. Philippe Thuriot was first enchanted by accordion sounds in his parents' café in Tervuren. Accordion is an instrument of 1001 cultures: from folk to elevated, from classical music, Argentine tango, rousing Balkan music to jazz and French chanson. Gwen Cresens is a musical jack-of-all-trades, a performer pur sang, at home in many styles and with a healthy dose of humor. "The most beautiful music is created where boundaries blur," he states. On his latest album Into the Box, he goes in search of the pure soul of music. The recording of the Goldberg Variaties van Bach by Philippe Thuriot in 2012 left everyone speechless. This year, he explored the many sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti to distill the most beautiful music from them, strung together with fine improvisations. He made a unique record with new approaches to iconic compositions by Bach. Philippe Thuriot and Gwen Cresens did production work for each other's latest records. They collaborated on the international dance performance Amours Aveugles van Koen Augustijnen and Rosalba Torres, with music by Claudio Monteverdi. In the summer of 2025, they were weekly guests at Klara for the program Weg van Accordeon. Two grandmasters of the accordion and two friends, together on stage. It doesn't get any better than this.