From the Vault: Igudesman & Joo – A Little Nightmare Music (Live in Metropole, Vienna 2005)

After officially retiring from performing live together, Igudesman & Joo are opening the vault and sharing their archived legacy with the world.

This video takes us right back to the beginning:
A Little Nightmare Music — recorded live in 2005 at the Vienna Metropole.
Young, bold, and unapologetically inventive, this performance captures the raw energy of two musicians who were just starting to challenge what a classical concert could be.

Over more than two decades, Igudesman & Joo performed across the globe, from major concert halls to unconventional stages, combining virtuosic musicianship with humour, theatricality, and a deep love for music in all its forms. Their work reached millions and opened doors for new audiences to experience classical music without barriers.

While their joint live performances have come to an end, both artists are now deeply immersed in new creative chapters.

Aleksey Igudesman is increasingly focused on composing, curating, and building long-form artistic visions. He is a co-composer of the TV series Schwarzes Gold, working alongside Hans Zimmer, and continues to expand his work in film, television, and orchestral music.
He is the founder of The Limitless Orchestra, a genre-defying ensemble dedicated to breaking stylistic boundaries and rethinking the future of orchestral music. The orchestra has been featured in a nationally broadcast documentary on ORF, highlighting its innovative approach and international spirit.
Igudesman also composes regularly for major orchestras, including new works for the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, further deepening his connection to large-scale symphonic storytelling.

Hyung-ki Joo continues to explore the piano as a theatrical, dramatic, and orchestral force. He has appeared on major stages with leading artists, including performances alongside soprano Asmik Grigorian, and is developing new formats that challenge traditional concert roles. Among these is Piano Versus Orchestra, a concept that places the soloist in direct dialogue — and sometimes confrontation — with the symphonic machine. Alongside performing, Joo is also involved in a wide range of creative projects spanning composition, concept development, and experimental performance formats.

As part of this new era, Igudesman & Joo are gradually releasing rare and previously unseen archival recordings, offering insight into their artistic evolution. In addition, many of the iconic stage props used throughout their career will be auctioned, giving audiences the chance to own a physical piece of the duo’s history.

This video is more than a throwback.
It is a starting point — a look at where it all began, as the music continues to move forward in new and unexpected directions.

Official Homepages & Projects

Igudesman & Joo
www.igudesmanandjoo.com

Aleksey Igudesman
www.alekseyigudesman.com

Hyung-ki Joo
www.hyungkijoo.com

The Limitless Orchestra
www.thelimitlessorchestra.com


Thank you for being part of the journey — past, present, and future. 🎻✨