Luisa Muller & Xuan Liu

Mezzosoprano Luisa Müller is currently in her second year of her Masters Opera degree at the Hochschule für Musik, Theatre und Medien Hannover in the class of Peter Anton Ling. She received her first Lied lesson at the Hochschule für Musik Saar in the class of Matthias Wierig. After her transfer to the Musikhochschule Hannover, she continued her studies in the class of Anastasia Grishutina, and now Jan-Philip Schulze. She has also received tutelage in specifically Scandinavian Lieder from Lena Haselmann. Luisa receives regular coaching from Takeshi Moriuchi (Director of studies, Frankfurt Opera).

The pianist Xuan Liu hails from Auckland, New Zealand. She is currently in her third year of her Bachelors degree at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, where she studies under Bernd Goetzke. Xuan had her first encounter with Lied in New Zealand through a course on the “Vier Ernste Gesänge” by J. Brahms, and has since developed a particular interest for the genre.

As a duo, Luisa and Xuan have been working together since early 2023, meeting first in the Lied class of Anastasia Grishutina, and now studying together under Jan Philip Schulze. They have performed in many Hochschul-affiliated projects and concerts together, such as a lecture-recital "Nur nicht die Fassung verlieren!" regarding the connection between Lieder by R. Strauss, P. Hindemith, and E. W. Korngold. Recently, they participated in a modern Lied masterclass with Claudia Barainsky. Together, they share a deep passion for the Lieder of R. Strauss, C. Debussy, and J. Brahms.