176 Keys to Europe (European Music for 2 Pianos 1900-1950)

Debussy; Infante; Milhaud; Lutoslawski; Rachmaninoff (Composer), Duo Hammel - Sanchez (now called Duo Scarbo) (Orchestra), Elena Hammel (piano); Laura Sánchez (piano) (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Elena Hammel (piano); Laura Sánchez (piano)
• Orchestra: Duo Hammel - Sanchez (now called Duo Scarbo)
• Composer: Debussy; Infante; Milhaud; Lutoslawski; Rachmaninoff
• Audio CD (April 10, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Class 6
• ASIN: B000EHSK1A
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #860,257 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
Critics across Europe and the USA have praised the Dúo Scarbó (formerly Dúo Hammel – Sánchez) as "a duo that lifts the passions of music lovers wherever it goes..." (La Tribuna, Spain). Performing an expansive repertoire that embraces music from Mozart to Crumb and beyond, they have received prizes in every competition they have participated in: the 10th Murray Dranoff 2 Piano Competition (Miami), the XI Gaetano Zinetti International Chamber Music Competition (Italy), the XX TIM International Music Competition, and the II Guadamora International Chamber Music Competition (Spain), among others.
Elena Hammel (Puerto Rico) and Laura Sánchez (Spain) met in 1997 while studying in Dublin and, since giving their first performance in 2000, they have performed on both sides of the Atlantic in events ranging from duo recitals in two-thousand-seat concert halls, to educational concerts in intimate venues, to symphony orchestra, radio and television appearances. They have performed to critical acclaim in a wide range of prestigious venues such as the Casals Festival (Puerto Rico), the Honest Brook Music Festival (NY), the Sembrich Opera Museum (NY), Town Hall in Seattle, Auditorio Nacional (Spain), Museo de Arte Reina Sofía (Madrid, Spain), Auditorio de Zaragoza (Spain), the Auditorio los Jameos del Agua (Spain), and the Puerto Rico Art Museum. Additionally they have been engaged by the Performing Arts Center in San Juan, the University and the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, the Mozarteum Wiener Saal (Salzburg) and the Music Conservatories of Mannheim and Detmold (Germany), among others. The Duo Scarbó has also appeared as guest soloist with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and the JONDE Orchestra in Spain. Their appearances have enjoyed such popular success that they are frequently re-engaged by these and other venues. Their performances have also been broadcast by stations Radio Nacional Clásica in Spain, WSKG and WAMC radios in New York, and TU-TV television in Puerto Rico.
The Duo Scarbó has also taken a special interest to performing the contemporary repertoire for four hands. Most recently they have worked closely with Spanish composer José Luis Turina preparing his complete oeuvre for piano duo, which he invited the Duo to perform at the Festival de Málaga in a series of concerts in his honor. They have given the world premieres of works by both Spanish and American composers written especially for the Duo Scarbó, and have also performed Spanish and Puerto Rican premieres of major 20th Century works such as George Crumb’s Celestial Mechanics and Bohuslav Martinu’s Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra. Other institutions where they been invited to perform contemporary music concerts include the Sound Symposium (Canada), Festival de Málaga (Spain), Fundación Juan March, Museo de Arte Reina Sofía (Spain), the Festival Interamericano de las Artes as well as the Festival Internacional de Música Contemporánea (both in Puerto Rico).
The release of their debut CD in 2002 featured music for one piano, four hands, and included works by Stravinsky, Schubert, Ravel and Corigliano. In February 2005 they released their second CD, 176 Keys to Europe, performing music on two pianos by Debussy, Infante, Milhaud, Lutoslawski and Rachmaninoff.

Product Description
"It’s always good to have a plan - Elena Hammel and Laura Sanchez (who now travel the world under the new name of Duo Scarbo) definitely had one for their second album. Instead of just randomly placing a few favourites and some more obscure pieces of the four handed piano repertoire alongside each other, they have opted for a concept. Where do these “176 Keys” lead to? First of all to some of the finest moments of European music for 2 pianos. Prejudice against it has never really waned and still today there are several so-called experts who feel totally at ease proclaiming that there are simply no truly relevant compositions in this field. Those sourpusses should prepare to blown away, as this refreshing storm of passion, romance, daring dynamics, playfulness and pure bliss roars through the cobweb-filled ruins of their cliched Classical Music altars. Right from the very start, with the percussive and powerful first notes of Debussy’s Nocturne, the course is set for a journey full of discoveries, exploring Infante’s “Danses Andalouses”, as well as Lutoslawski’s take on “a Theme by Paganini”. Joint first prize, though, goes to the second movement of Milhaud’s “Scaramouche” (delicate and floating) and the Waltz from Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 2 (smouldering and stirring), which are much more than just pleasant side notes in history. Secondly, these keys lead to a better understanding of what four handed playing is all about. Of course, it is also about “orchestral textures and ever more complex applications of rhythm, harmony and melody”, as the booklet mentions. What I found rather intrigueing, however, was the fact that the differences with just one piano are far subtler than one would have thought. In the quiet passages, there is more deepness, in the louder passages there is more weight and in the expressive parts in between these two, there are remarkably more shades and colours. If this can indeed be laid down to “discipline and luck”, the duo must both work night and day and sleep on a pillow filled with four-leaf clovers. Despite being more than an hour long, the album never gets tiresome or self-indulgent. Which, again, has everything to do with it being carefully planed and arranged. Sit down and let go of those silly thoughts and prejudices about four handed piano play - these keys lead straight to happiness." --Tobias Fischer, Mouvement Nouveau Magazine, December 16, 2005 (Liner notes in English and Spanish)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just beautiful!!, May 11, 2006

By	K. Raquelle "Piano Lover" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I heard the Duo Scarbo in concert in New York last year and just had to get the CD when I got home. Not only are they amazing pianists, and a rock-solid team, but also the music they chose for this CD is just the absolute best there is for 2 pianos. I listen to it all the time and never tire of it.

I'm not sure why there are no soundclips from the CD on this page, but if you want to hear some you can visit the Duo Scarb?'s website and listen to them there.

Higly recommended!!!