Piano Duo at the University of Houston

Both coming from a long line of famous performers, and both accomplished soloists, Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle have become a piano duo characterised by an unfaltering mutual understanding. Thanks to their special energy on stage, original repertoire, new concert formats and ability to communicate with the audience, they aim to contribute to giving the piano duo a status equal to all other forms of chamber music.

In only a short time, the duo managed to put together a repertoire featuring the ‘greatest hits’ for two pianos and four hands, as well as rare works featuring original compositions and new transcriptions, enriched by Arthur Ancelle’s scores : Francesca da Rimini (Jurgenson), Romeo & Juliet (Chant du Monde), After a reading of Dante, etc.

Each season, they are guests of the most beautiful halls: Radio France Auditorium, Salle Gaveau, Moscow and St. Petersburg Philharmonic Halls, Zaryadye Hall, Moscow Conservatory, and they will make their debut at the Philharmonie de Paris in 2022.

Invited to prestigious festivals such as the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, the Moscow December Nights Festival, the Tokyo Spring Festival, Rota das Artes in Lisbon, Klavier Raritäten in Husum, the Lisztomanias, the Solistes à Bagatelle or the Pianofolies du Touquet, they also collaborate with renowned orchestras such as the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ulsan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre National d’Ile de France, the Orchestre de Picardie, and conductors of all generations: Nikolai Alexeev, Arie Van Beek, Jader Bignamini, Lucie Leguay, Rebecca Tong…

Bolstered by intense recording activity as a duo, as soloists, or as chamber musicians, Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle have already released 8 albums together, all of which have been extremely well received and awarded by the international press (Gramophone’s Editor’s Choice, Classica’s Choc, Le Monde’s and Libération’s Album of the Year, Pianiste Maestro, etc.).

Their creativity and desire to share is also expressed through the artistic direction of two festivals: La Clé des Portes, created in 2012 and which takes place in the enchanting setting of the Loire castles, and the Rungis Piano-Piano Festival, entirely dedicated to the world of 2-pianos and 4-hands.

They will present a free recital on February 6 and a free Masterclass on February 7 at the Dudley Recital Hall of the University of Houston.