Click here to see performances 2010-2011
 
Richard and John Contiguglia performed a special concert on Dame Myra Hess Day 2008 at The National Gallery, London.
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Richard and John Contiguglia   The American identical twins, Richard and John Contiguglia, are among the most acclaimed and versatile piano-duos in the world today. Since their London debut in 1962, following which the London Daily Telegraph described their playing as setting “a new standard for this intimate form of music-making,” Richard and John are now the proprietors of their own recording company, Gemini CD Classics. Their releases on the Gemini label, Schubert Piano Duets — The Final Year, Live from the Holland Liszt Festival — Duos of Franz Liszt for One and Two Pianos, Music of Gershwin-Grainger and, most recently, Beethoven/Liszt 9th Symphony, reflect their lifelong commitment to popularizing the great body of music for two pianists. Their earlier recordings on the Connoisseur Society label and live performances of Bartók’s Suite for Two Pianos, Op. 4b, of Liszt’s transcription for two pianos of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and of Liszt’s Operatic Paraphrases on ‘Don Giovanni,’ ‘Norma’ and ‘La Sonnambula’ were modern-day premieres. The Liszt Society of Budapest, Hungary, in the first record competition in the Society’s history, awarded the Contiguglias’ recording of the Beethoven/Liszt 9th Symphony its grand prix. With the Cleveland Orchestra they revived Victor Babin’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra.

The most extraordinary musical event of the twins’ youth was a performance in their hometown of Auburn, New York, when they were 12 years old, of a group of two-piano pieces in the middle of a solo-piano recital by the legendary pianist-composer, Percy Grainger. Following their concert together, Grainger presented the young pianists with many of his two-piano scores, some with touching dedications: “to Richard and John Contiguglia, from their admiring colleague,” “in admiration of their splendid playing,” “in tonal fellowship.”

Richard and John have performed with major orchestras throughout the world, including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the National Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the Boston Pops, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonish Orkest. They have been heard, both with orchestra and in recital, in numerous prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

They graduated in the top 1% of their class at Yale, with identical averages of 91%, receiving their B.A. degrees summa cum laude, with Philosophical Orations. Two years later they received M.Mus. degrees from the Yale Graduate School of Music at the top of their class. Subsequently, they studied for four years in London with the great British pianist, Dame Myra Hess. In recognition of their associations with Dame Myra, Richard and John were invited to be the featured pianists for Dame Myra Hess Day, 2008, at the National Gallery in London on November 25, 2008. Their performance of a lunchtime concert at 1:00 pm, which the British critic, Jessica Duchen, described as extraordinary,  called to mind the 1:00 pm lunchtime concerts (1,698, over a period of 6½ years) that Dame Myra organized during World War II at London’s National Gallery, for which she was made Dame Commander of the British Empire by King George VI. The summer of 2011 brought them to Australia to participate in Townsville, Australia’s 21st Festival of Chamber Music, with its special emphasis on the music of Franz Liszt and Percy Grainger.

Contiguglia Duo reviewed in CVNC

“From a front row balcony seat, the Sonata was a feast for the eyes and ears and a constantly evolving puzzle for the mind! Balance between the pianists and percussionists was excellent and the co-ordination was very precise. The execution of the complex contrapuntal layering of the first movement was breathtaking. The eerie night music of the second movement was perfectly spun out. The high jinks of the finale brought the unusually large audience to its feet in prolonged applause for a wonderful performance of a too seldom heard masterpiece. May the Contigulia Brothers return to Elon soon with, maybe, another memorable Schubertaid or an evening of Mozart.”

- CVNC, North Carolina, October 25, 2011 Read full article

Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog reviews Dame Myra Hess Day performance at the National Gallery

“Lunchtime saw an extraordinary performance by the Contiguglia Twins from New York, who played the socks off Howard Ferguson, Schubert and Beethoven. They came to Britain to study with Hess as young boys and played the Schubert Variations on an Original Theme for their Wigmore Hall debut. And... I’ve heard of identical, but this was quite something. I’m reliably informed that you can tell them apart when you know them well.”

- Jessica Duchen’s Classical Music Blog, November 26, 2008  Read More About Dame Myra Hess Day

Newest release on the Gemini CD Classics label
Beethoven / Liszt Symphony No. 9 (Choral) Beethoven / Liszt Symphony No. 9 (Choral)
Richard and John Contiguglia, Duo-Pianists
The most popular orchestral work of all time, magnificently transcribed for two pianos by Franz Liszt, can be heard once again in the Contiguglias’ new recording for Gemini CD Classics.
View More Information
Contiguglia Duo’s Beethoven/Liszt CD reviewed in the American Record Guide

American Record Guide“I enjoy transcriptions as much or more than most, and this is a great one, of the greatest piece, with a masterly performance, excellent recorded sound, and perceptive notes.”

- American Record Guide, January/February 2008 Read full article

Contiguglia Duo reviewed in The News-Gazette, Champaign/Urbana, IL

The News-Gazette“The piano duo of the identical Contiguglia twins is one of the most famous exemplars of this branch of the piano field. They have shown their superb discipline and fine musicianship here in years past as guest artists with Hobson’s Sinfonia da Camera. On Monday night, they aroused to a high level of enthusiasm the members of a moderate-sized audience in Smith Music Hall.”

- The News-Gazette, Champaign/Urbana, IL, June 2007 Read full article

Contiguglia Duo reviewed in the News Times of Danbury, CT

“When it came to Mozart’s concerto, the Contiguglias’ four hands seemed to be playing with one mind and heart. The Allegro movement was rich in thematic development, flowing back and forth without repeating, but constantly moving along with a natural progression. Exchanging phrases smoothly in this brilliant dialogue, the twins’ cooperative effort was a model of a well-functioning family. The final movement included cadenzas and ritards performed with amazing synchronicity. The twins knew each other’s parts as their own. My apologies go to the RSO, as my attention was completely captured by the pianists.”

- News Times, Danbury, CT, December 2006 Read full article

Contiguglia Duo reviewed in the Classical Voice of North Carolina

“The playing was as astonishing as the music itself”

“And the best artists — in which august group the Contiguglias belong — find new meaning in every repeat performance. So there was nothing routine about this concert”

“I heard things I’d never noticed before, due to the great precision and clarity of the performance. ’Twas Art with a capital “A,” all ’round.”

- Classical Voice of North Carolina, October 2005 Read full article

Performances 2010-2011

Hot Springs, Arkansas

Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 3:00 pm

Woodlands Auditorium
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas

 
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring  J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
   Transcribed for two pianos by
Myra Hess (1890-1965)
Partita, Op. 5b  Howard Ferguson (1908-1999)
   Grave — Allegretto pesante
Allegro un poco agitato
Andante un poco mosso
Allegro con spirito
Andante and Variations, Op. 46  Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Fantasy on George Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess  Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
George Gershwin
(1898-1937)
 
Maryville, Tennessee

Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 2:00 pm

Maryville College
Clayton Center for the Arts
502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway
Maryville, Tennessee

 
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring  J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
   Transcribed for two pianos by
Myra Hess (1890-1965)
Andante and Variations, Op. 46  Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Fantasy on George Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess  Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
George Gershwin
(1898-1937)
Finale from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Op. 125   Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
   Transcribed for two pianos by
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
     IV Finale
Presto — Allegro ma non troppo — Tempo I, Allegro — Vivace
Adagio cantabile — Allegro assai — Presto — Recitativo
Allegro — Allegro assai vivace alla marcia — Andante maestoso
Adagio ma non troppo ma devoto — Allegro energico
Allegro ma non tanto — Poco adagio — Poco allegro stringendo
il tempo sempre più allegro — Prestissimo
 
Fort Myers, Florida

Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 7:30 pm

The Village Church Auditorium
Shell Point Retirement Community

Box Office (239) 454-2067

 
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring  J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
   Transcribed for two pianos by
Myra Hess (1890-1965)
Andante and Variations, Op. 46  Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Fantasy on George Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess  Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
George Gershwin
(1898-1937)
Finale from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Op. 125   Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
   Transcribed for two pianos by
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
     IV Finale
Presto — Allegro ma non troppo — Tempo I, Allegro — Vivace
Adagio cantabile — Allegro assai — Presto — Recitativo
Allegro — Allegro assai vivace alla marcia — Andante maestoso
Adagio ma non troppo ma devoto — Allegro energico
Allegro ma non tanto — Poco adagio — Poco allegro stringendo
il tempo sempre più allegro — Prestissimo
 
Yachats, Oregon
Yachats 30th Annual International Music Festival
Presented by Four Seasons Concerts of Berkeley, CA

Friday, July 9, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Yachats Community Presbyterian Church
360 West 7th Street
Yachats, Oregon

 
Divertissement à la Hongroise, Op. 54, D818  Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
     1st Movement — Andante, Un poco più mosso
 
Yachats, Oregon
Yachats 30th Annual International Music Festival
Presented by Four Seasons Concerts of Berkeley, CA

Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 1:00 pm

Yachats Community Presbyterian Church
360 West 7th Street
Yachats, Oregon

 
Seminar - “The Art of the Piano Duet”
Divertissement à la Hongroise, Op. 54, D818  Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
     2nd Movement — Marcia, Andante con moto
 
Yachats, Oregon
Yachats 30th Annual International Music Festival
Presented by Four Seasons Concerts of Berkeley, CA

Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Yachats Community Presbyterian Church
360 West 7th Street
Yachats, Oregon

 
Divertissement à la Hongroise, Op. 54, D818  Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
     3rd Movement — Allegretto
 
Oakland, California

Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 7:30 pm

Regents Theatre at Holy Names University
3500 Mountain Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619

For information and tickets, visit www.fourseasonsconcerts.com

 
Partita, Op. 5b  Howard Ferguson (1908-1999)
   I    Grave — Allegretto pesante
II   Allegro un poco agitato
III  Andante un poco mosso
IV  Allegro con spirito — Più lento — Tempo I
Concerto in C Major BMV 1061   J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
   I    [ — ]
II   Adagio ovvero Largo
III  Fugar
Etudes in Canon form, Op. 56  Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
   No. 2  Mit innigem Ausdruck
No. 4  Innig
No. 5  Nicht zu schnell
Andante and Variations, Op. 46  Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Valse from Suite for Two Pianos, Op. 15  Anton Arensky (1861-1906)
 
Townsville, North Queensland, Australia
2011 Australian Festival of Chamber Music

July 29 — August, 6, 2011

Works to be performed include: Beethoven/Liszt — Finale of 9th Symphony; Liszt — 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody; Percy Grainger — Four Folk Song Settings, Fantasy on Gershwin’s ‘Porgy & Bess’, Colonial Song, My Robin is to the Greenwood Gone, Handel in the Strand and Green Bushes; J.S. Bach — Concerto in C Major and Bartók — Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.
 

Auburn, New York
The Adams Foundation Piano Recital Series
Assisted by Percussionists Joshua Dekaney and Rob Bridge

Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Westminster Presbyterian Church
17 Williams Street
Auburn, NY

 
Four Folk Song Settings  Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
   Molly on the Shore
Shepherd’s Hey
Spoon River
Let’s Dance Gay in Green Meadow,
    Neath the Mould Shall Never Dancer’s Tread Go
Fantasy on George Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess  Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
George Gershwin
(1898-1937)
Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion  Béla Bartόk (1881-1945)
   I    Assai lento — Allegro molto
II   Lento, ma non troppo
III  Allegro non troppo
 
Elon, North Carolina
The Adams Foundation Piano Recital Series
Assisted by Percussionists John Beck and Wiley Sykes

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 7:30 pm

Whitley Auditorium
Elon University
Elon, North Carolina

 
Four Folk Song Settings  Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
   Molly on the Shore
Shepherd’s Hey
Spoon River
Let’s Dance Gay in Green Meadow,
    Neath the Mould Shall Never Dancer’s Tread Go
Fantasy on George Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess  Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
George Gershwin
(1898-1937)
Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion  Béla Bartόk (1881-1945)
   I    Assai lento — Allegro molto
II   Lento, ma non troppo
III  Allegro non troppo
 

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