Gutman Records went to Paris!

For our newest release, Sonorités de Paris by pianist Florian Verweij, Hans and Hein traveled with Florian to Paris. For two days they immersed themselves in the city of light, on the hunt for an album cover that could capture the atmosphere of the music on Florian’s debut album: mesmerizing works from the belle époque by Franck, Fauré, [Lili] Boulanger and Roger-Ducasse. Take a look behind the scenes with this photo recap of their trip!

‘Accompanied by Beethoven’s String Quartets, we arrived by car on the afternoon of July 7th, just as Paris was buzzing with preparations for the Olympic Games. After checking into a hotel with a view that could have been straight out of Un Balcon à Paris(1881) by the impressionist Gustave Caillebotte, we set off to scout the city for spots to photograph the next day. We made a quick stop at the Jardin du Luxembourg for a bite to eat, then decided our starting point for the following morning would be Trocadéro at sunrise.

Before the sun even started to rise on the 8th, we raced through the streets of Paris, only to find Trocadéro closed off due to Olympic preparations. No matter – Pont de Bir-Hakeim was just around the corner and quickly became our new starting point. It wasn’t easy securing a perfect spot, with a few couples also vying for the same place. From there, we made our way through Paris, shooting photos at iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Jewish Quarter, the Louvre, and Palais Royal, as well as some hidden gems off the beaten path. Along the way, we recharged with espressos and croissants. In quieter moments, Hein worked on one of his upcoming sculptures.

As the evening light began to shimmer, and after more than 30,000 steps, Hans captured the final photos along the Seine, eventually creating the Van Gogh-inspired image that would end up on the album cover. That magical moment produced the last shot of the trip, ending the day as it had begun – bathed in sparkling light.’