Wu Wei Trio
"So colorful, so immediately touching." - Rondo Magazine
Wu Wei Sheng
Martin Stegner Viola
Janne Saksala Doublebass
The ensemble, featuring Chinese sheng virtuoso Wu Wei and Berlin Philharmonic members Martin Stegner (viola) and Janne Saksala (double bass), creates a space where musicians from different cultures, sound worlds, and traditions can meet creatively. With this extraordinary lineup, the three musicians craft a fascinating soundscape that moves between early music, free improvisation, and contemporary expressiveness.
At the heart of their sound is the sheng, one of the world's oldest wind instruments, presented here in a modern, expanded form that encompasses the entire Western tonal system. The trio deliberately interprets baroque works beyond the confines of historical performance practice, forgoing a traditional continuo instrument.
This creates a transparent, breathing sonic space in which the instruments can interact freely. The viola connects the expressive sheng with the warm, cello-like lines of the double bass. The result is not a traditional baroque interpretation, but rather music that transcends cultural boundaries and makes the familiar audible in a new way—poetic, free, and full of sonic surprises. Virtuosity, an improvisational openness, and a joy in taking musical risks characterize their music.