When legendary vocal accompanist Graham Johnson returns to make his 53rd and 54th appearance at the Ruhr Piano Festival, devotees of art song know they can expect a thoughtfully selected programme sung by first-rate young vocalists. Austrian mezzo-soprano Sophie Rennert masters a wide range of repertoire across all periods, styles, and genres. With the “wonderfully warm, supple glow of her noble mezzo timbre” (Die Welt), this laureate of the Salzburg International Mozart Competition has not only thrilled audiences in Baroque operas by Handel and Vivaldi or in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, but also as Prince Orlofsky in Johann Strauss’ Fledermaus, as well as in contemporary repertoire. In the recording studio, she recently made her solo contribution to Graham Johnson’s ongoing Brahms lieder project. For his second recital evening in Haus Fuhr, Graham Johnson additionally welcomes Wolfgang Resch, one of today’s most promising young vocal talents. Trained by great artists including Brigitte Fassbaender and Christa Ludwig, the young Austrian baritone gave his Salzburg Festival début in 2014. With his full, mellow timbre and his velvety legato, Resch is the ideal musical partner for Sophie Rennert and Graham Johnson. For the occasion, Johnson has made a personal selection from Hugo Wolf’s magnificent songbooks, the Liederbücher.