Click here to see performances 2007-2008
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. After many years of concertizing in Europe and America since their London debut in 1962, which the London Daily Telegraph described 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 first releases, Schubert Piano Duets - The Final Year, Live From The Holland Liszt Festival - Duos of Franz Liszt for One and Two Pianos, and Gershwin - Grainger, reflect their lifelong commitment to popularizing the great body of music for two pianists. Earlier in their career their live performances and recordings on the Connoisseur Society label 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. The recording was a Top 10 Billboard Best Seller in the US and a best-seller in Japan. With the Cleveland Orchestra they revived Victor Babin's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra. Their recital in Santa Barbara, California, in 2000, for the Music Academy of the West was selected by music critic, Greg Hettmansberger, as one of the best musical events of the year in his New Year's Eve summation for the Santa Barbara News Press. In praising the Contiguglias' devotion "to what is possibly the most misunderstood - and certainly underappreciated - genre of all great music," Mr. Hettmansberger added that "the Contiguglias have spent nearly four decades trying to change that. Friday night at the Lobero Theatre, they offered overwhelming evidence for both their passion and their extraordinary talents."

Richard and John Contiguglia 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 legendary British pianist, Dame Myra Hess.

 

Special Recital Program
for the 2007-2008 Season
Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Transcribed for 2 Pianos
by Franz Liszt

Click Here to View

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.
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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 America

"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 2007-2008

Anderson, Indiana

Friday, November 9, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Presented by Anderson University and the Central Christian Church of Anderson, Indiana

Central Christian Church
923 Jackson Street
Anderson, Indiana

 
Symphonic Poem No. 4, Orpheus  Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
   (transcribed for two pianos by the composer)
En Blanc et Noir  Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
     1. Avec emportement
     2. Lent. Sombre
     3. Scherzando
Variations on an Original Theme in A-flat Major  Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
  
Op. 35-D813 (one piano, four-hands)
Sonata in D Major, KV 448  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
     Allegro con spirito
     Andante
     Molto Allegro
 
Davidson, North Carolina

Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 7:30 pm

Tyler-Tallman Hall
Sloan Music Center
Davidson College
Davidson, NC 28035

 
Symphonic Poem No. 4, Orpheus  Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
   (transcribed for two pianos by the composer)
En Blanc et Noir  Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
     1. Avec emportement
     2. Lent. Sombre
     3. Scherzando
Variations on an Original Theme in A-flat Major  Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
  
Op. 35-D813 (one piano, four-hands)
From Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (Choral), Op. 125   Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
   (transcribed for two pianos by Franz Liszt)                          
  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
 
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 7:00 pm

Charles Pianos
5000 B Menaul NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110

 
Symphonic Poem No. 4, Orpheus  Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
   (transcribed for two pianos by the composer)
En Blanc et Noir  Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
     1. Avec emportement
     2. Lent. Sombre
     3. Scherzando
Variations on an Original Theme in A-flat Major  Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
  
Op. 35-D813 (one piano, four-hands)
From Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (Choral), Op. 125   Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
   (transcribed for two pianos by Franz Liszt)                          
  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
 
Wenham, Massachusetts

Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 7:00 pm

Gordon College
Phillips Recital Hall
255 Grapevine Road
Wenham, MA 01984

 
Symphonic Poem No. 4, Orpheus  Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
   (transcribed for two pianos by the composer)
En Blanc et Noir  Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
     1. Avec emportement
     2. Lent. Sombre
     3. Scherzando
Variations on an Original Theme in A-flat Major  Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
  
Op. 35-D813 (one piano, four-hands)
From Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (Choral), Op. 125   Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
   (transcribed for two pianos by Franz Liszt)                          
  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
 
Champaign/Urbana, Illinois

June 16-21, 2008 at 7:30 pm

University of Illinois Piano Festival
Smith Memorial Hall

Program to be announced

 
Yachats, Oregon

July 9-13, 2008

Program to be announced

 

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