Cellist Dmitry Ferschtman (b. 1945) and pianist Mila Baslawaskaja (b. 1946) are chamber music luminaries with more than 60 years of shared stage experience. During their childhood in the Soviet Union, music and poetry formed the food and drink of their cultural upbringing. In 1978, they settled in the Netherlands and regularly give concerts on major stages at home and abroad. Their ensemble playing is passionate and vital: like no other, they know how to express the power and beauty of music. They made several CD recordings for Globe Records and Cobra Records. In 2009, they released 'The Russian Voice', with romances by Glinka, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov. A special production that met with an enthusiastic reception from press and public alike. Their new offshoot is the album 'Innermost' on the venturous TRPTK label. This production features three of their favourite composers. For instance, Ferschtman and Baslawskaja give their take on Franz Schubert's famous 'Arpeggione sonata', Robert Schumann's 'Violin Sonata No.1' is given an arrangement and Dmitri Shostakovich's compelling 'Cello Sonata in D Minor' forms the closing track. Passion and deep melancholy are essential features of their performance. "We have chosen the music closest to our hearts and want to emphasise the distinctly singing character of these romantic compositions," Ferschtman and Baslawskaja tell us. "Singing forms the basis of Russian music education and it is precisely this skill that forms the starting point for our interpretations. More than ever before, on 'Innermost' we lay bare our souls, exactly as the title suggests." "Every time we play together constitutes a voyage of discovery for us," Ferschtman and Baslawskaja note in conclusion. "We always have discussions and don't spare each other in the process. Sometimes we almost quarrel, but by being critical of each other, the result gets better and better. We have now been married for 54 years and will always be together. We want to share the admiration and love we have for this music with the listener. We want to ignite our audience with it."