Two leading pianists, the British Baroque specialist Julian Perkins and the Italian pianist Emma Abbate combine at one piano in a mouth-watering programme.
Emma and Julian have given keyboard duet recitals at many prestigious UK venues including the Royal Opera House, St John’s Smith Square and St George’s Bristol. The varied sound world of historical pianos inspires their approach to a broad repertoire that ranges from J. C. Bach to the present day, and they have given recitals on original instruments for the Finchcocks Charity, at Hatchlands Park and the Russell Collection. They have recently released the second volume of Mozart’s complete piano duets on period instruments for Resonus Classics. This album was the first to be recorded on the newly formed Richard Burnett Heritage Collection of Early Keyboard Instruments and has been highly praised by BBC Music Magazine. Their first volume was described by Early Music Review as “exemplary”, and represents the final recording made at Finchcocks Musical Museum. Recent engagements have included a duet recital in Boston for the Mozart Society of America in 2019.
Programme to include:
Greig: Norweigan Dances Opus 35
Mozart: Andante with Variations for four hands in G major K.501
Rachmaninov: Polka Italienne, Scherzo Opus 11
‘Abbate breathes life into piano-writing that is frequently sparse but in which every shift of rhythm or colour speaks volumes.’
GRAMOPHONE
‘…effortless virtuosity… Julian Perkins gives performances that reach to the heart of the music.’
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW