The cover of Gramophone's September issue features a specially-commissioned illustration by Tony Healey of conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt and pianist Lang Lang.

An unlikely musical partnership they may be, but, as Lindsay Kemp found out when he attended their recording sessions together in Vienna, they certainly see eye to eye over Mozart.

This cover story is a revealing insight into the creative processes of two of the most distinctive and influential musicians in the world today. Lang Lang says of working with Harnoncourt that 'Every session with him is like a masterclass. He just gave me everything from his heart, and that direct connection in music-making is the most important inspiration for me.'

And Harnoncourt describes what he first saw in Lang Lang, 'Enormous flexibility; no problems of the body, but a very open spirit and unmoulded musicality so that one can talk like Adam and Eve, without everything being finished already. Straight away the interest and understanding were there, the sound was different, and every hour of work became inspiring for me.' Warm sentiments that artist Tony Healey has captured in his affectionate cover portraits.

Gramophone's September issue is available to subscribers now and on general sale from August 20. 

Subscribe to the Gramophone Digital Edition.

Subscribe to Gramophone Magazine.

Join the Gramophone Club.