Béla Bartók set out to collect and research the folk music of Transylvania, Hungary and Romania. At this time 3,000 kilometres further south-east, the monk Komitas had already gathered a magnificent archive of songs and dances, both religious and folk, from his culture, ancient Armenia.

In an unusual double portrait, Steffen Schleiermacher shows the differences and similarities between these two artistic personalities, whose compositions are decisively influenced by their engagement with the original music of their homeland.

Although Komitas travelled a lot through Europe to present his research results, there is no evidence of a personal encounter with Bartók. In Armenia, however, musicians of all styles, from church choir to heavy metal, still pronounce his name with the greatest respect.

Pianist Steffen Schleiermacher needs no introduction - his recordings for MDG have received the widest admiration all over the world.