Copenhagen-born Julius Johannsen (b. 1826) was the principal composition teacher and the rector of the St Petersburg Music Conservatory where he encouraged his grandson Leopold van der Pals (b. 1884) to compose. After a highly productive career, Leopold van der Pals left behind, among other things, nine music drama works and the Cello Sonata No. 1, Opus 5A. The cello sonata premiered for an audience for the first time by the composer's great-granddaughter last year at Carnegie Hall in New York.  

The European premiere of Leopold van der Pals' Cello Sonata No. 1, Opus 5A performed by Tobias van der Pals and pianist Pål Eide at the Copenhagen Opera Festival will take the audience to an unforgettable evening of classical music. Experience the final scene from van der Pals' opera 'Hero & Leander' performed by soprano Dénise Beck together with beautiful music from the composers' friends and colleagues Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. The original sheet music was lent and exhibited at The Black Diamond.