Luminous Duo is a Chicago-based chamber ensemble formed in 2023, comprising Lewis Rawlinson (cello) and Mo Xu (piano). They first began performing together when Lewis was seeking a pianist for his autobiographical play with music titled NERVOUS BREAKDOWN IN G MINOR. The play features a demanding range of repertoire, and we were fortunate to find each other as collaborators who shared the technical prowess and artistic flexibility required to navigate a play-workshop process. They have since performed NERVOUS BREAKDOWN IN G MINOR together at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Den Theatre, and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.
Luminous Duo have presented concerts in venues in Chicago, recently including Pianoforte and The CheckOut, as well as in Indianapolis, featuring works by Barber, Corigliano, Debussy, Franck, Piazzolla, Poulenc, Rachmaninoff, and Sibelius. The duo is committed to illuminating under-appreciated works, engaging in performance narratives and advocacy that promotes greater understanding and inclusion in the classical arts, and presenting entertaining and informative events with a focus on music from the late-Romantic and Modern periods.