Essenz Anton & Maite Piano Duo

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791): Sonata for Piano Four-Hands in C Major, K. 521:
• 1 Mozart: Sonata for Piano Four-Hands in C Major, K. 521: I. Allegro 09:01
• 2 Mozart: Sonata for Piano Four-Hands in C Major, K. 521: II. Andante 07:01
• 3 Mozart: Sonata for Piano Four-Hands in C Major, K. 521: III. Allegretto 07:01
• Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828):
• 4 Schubert: Fantasie in F Minor, Op. 103, D. 940 19:00
• Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847): Andante & Allegro brillant, Op. 92, MWV T 4:
• 5 Mendelssohn: Andante & Allegro brillant, Op. 92, MWV T 4: I. Andante 02:33
• 6 Mendelssohn: Andante & Allegro brillant, Op. 92, MWV T 4: II. Allegro assai vivace 08:06
• William Bolcom (b. 1938):
• 7 Bolcom: The Garden of Eden: III. The Serpent's Kiss 06:20
• Total Runtime 59:02

Info for Essenz

The art of the piano four hands has gone unnoticed for many years and its historical importance has been minimised in comparison with other chamber music ensembles. Nevertheless, the great composers have dedicated works to this formation, and there is an extensive literature for it. “Essenz” was created with the intention of highlighting the exceptional repertoire written for piano four hands, choosing some of the works we consider to be the fundamental pillars of the genre. Anyone who enters the world of the piano four hands knows that Mozart and Schubert are the names to be reckoned with. These two Austrian geniuses are responsible for the consolidation of this unique musical genre. Mozart was the first to identify the great potential of the format, composing his first four-hand piano sonata when he was nine years old. These sonatas, which appear with a playful purpose, constitute a totally new and unexplored piano language, which is gradually evolving until it is established as a genre itself. Before Mozart there are some precedents of works for two performers on the same keyboard, but they are very experimental in nature, so he is considered a precursor of the genre. On the other hand, Franz Schubert was possibly the composer who most identified with the format, writing more than 60 works for this formation. Schubert found an inexhaustible source of inspiration in the piano four hands, which is possibly his most intimate and personal facet. His passion for this genre intensified at the end of his life, giving rise to monumental works that are among the best in his entire repertoire. Like Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn had a very talented pianist sister, who stayed by his side all his life. We know they played concerts together and we can assume they were well acquainted with the sonatas for this genre by Mozart. However, his production for piano four hands is scarce. Even so, the quantity does not detract from the great quality of these works, which are proof of the surprising level of virtuosity that can be achieved as a duo. Since the middle of the 19th century, the four-hand piano has taken many paths, transcription being one of them. With William Bolcom’s work we leave a window open to the future, exploring other ways of making music within this exciting formation.

Antón Dolgov, piano
Maite Leon, piano

Anton & Maite Piano Duo
Maite León (Pamplona) and Antón Dolgov (St.Petersburg) form a Spanish duo with an intense artistic activity. Passionate about chamber music, these two pianists show a great commitment to music written for piano duo, with the aim of vindicating their extensive repertoire and showing the unlimited possibilities that this formation offers.

Winners of 1st Prize in the Mirabent i Magrans International Competition, 1st Prize in the Luigi Zanuccoli International Competition, 1st and 2nd Prize (VIII and VI editions) in the Antón García Abril International Competition, as well as the Special Prize for “The best performance of a work by García Abril”. They have also won 2nd Prize at the Juventudes Musicales de España, 2nd Prize at the Concurso Internacional Ciutat de Vinarós and 2nd Prize at the Concurso Internacional de Panticosa, among others. In 2018 they were selected by the Asociación de Intérpretes y Ejecutantes to tour Spain as part of their AIEnRuta Clásicos circuit.

Despite their youth, Antón & Maite Piano Duo is one of the most prominent Spanish ensembles of its generation, having toured Europe and Asia, performing in venues such as the Harbin Grand Theatre (China), the Grazer Musikverein (Austria) or the Sala Mozart of the Auditorio de Zaragoza. They have performed in some of the most important festivals in Spain, such as the Schubertíada de Vilabertrán or the Festival de Música y Danza de Granada. They have made recordings for national radio and television such as RTVE Radio Clásica, Cataluña Radio and broadcasts such as Clásica FM and have performed as soloists with orchestras such as the Sinfónica Goya, Orquesta Sinfónica del CSMA or the KUG Orchester, under the baton of conductors such as Miquel Rodrigo or Ralf Weikert.

The music press has described them as a duo “with great sensitivity and musical taste” and a “perfect synchronisation between both pianists” (Diario de Aragón), highlighting “an admirable technical perfection, musicality and strength” (Ritmo).

The duo began at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Aragón with the pianist Miguel Ángel Ortega Chavaldas and the Duo del Valle, also receiving advice from the Duo Moreno-Gistaín and the Quiroga Quartet. After graduating with top marks, they studied a Piano Duo Master Degree with the prestigious Duo Silver Garburg, at the Kunstuniversität Graz.

Their first CD “ESSENZ”, produced by the IBS Classical label, includes some of the most representative works for piano four hands by Mozart, Schubert and Mendelssohn, as well as their own transcription of a work by the American composer William Bolcom.

Booklet for Essenz