Thursday 17th June 2004
Performances with two pianos are still a rarity but the duo is one of the oldest forms of social entertainment. Many first performances of pieces we now consider masterpieces were premiered by composers for their patrons in this highly colourful and dynamic form. It was the famous partnership of Lutoslawski and Panufnik, who performed in a tavern in Warsaw during WW2 that spawned one of the greatest pieces of the two piano repertoire, Lutoslawski’s “Variations on a theme by Paganni”. For all these great attributes and accolades the repertoire for two pianos is however still surprising small. In recent years the Labeque sisters have added new pieces and arrangements but the sheer volume of music that has been added to other chamber ensembles in the past 50 years hasn’t swept into the ‘two piano’ arena. Very few gifted young pianists ever have the opportunity to engage in the medium and because of this and the magnificent sound that two grand pianos produce the piano duo holds huge potential. The sound is unmistakeable having been described as two orchestras colliding and yet the sound world has never been investigated in the commercial market. Combine this with the supreme talent of two phenomenal young pianists you have an explosive combination.
Cassie Yukawa
Cassie and Rosey first began collaborating in November 2003. They first met at the age of 11 on the piano competition circuit where both were awarded the highest prizes. Coincidentally, they took a similar path and attended the same conservatoire where both studied with Professor Yonty Solomon.
Rosey Chan
It was not until after both had graduated that they formed a musical partnership that is already considered to be one of the most dynamic young piano duos of their generation. Their collaborative spirit is opening up new performance possibilities and engaging audiences with a diverse artistic landscape born from a unified vision. It is this drive and creativity that is yielding brand new musical material and very exciting projects which are to be unveiled in the coming months.
Selected engagements include:
EFG Private Bank SILK Launch Concert, Mayfair, May 2004
Performance at Cartier Polo event, July 2004
Promotional concerts for Zenith Watches, July 2004
Private concert at the Hamptons Summer Festival, New York, August 2004
Evening recital at Steinway Hall, London October 2004
Winners of the Park Lane Group Concert Recital Series to include appearances at the Purcell Room & Wigmore Hall, 2005-2006
© Silk Piano Duo, April 2004
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
