Duo Hammel Sanchez

[athykay]

I had been in the chat room here last week and had commented that I would be attending a dress rehearsal/party for the duo of Elena Hammel (a PF member) and Laura Sanchez and promised to report more.  So here goes:

 (Here is their website for any who may not have seen it or know of them: 


https://www.pianofourhands.com/welcome.html )

They had been practicing madly for the past couple of months in preparation for the preliminaries for the Murray Dranoff 2 Piano Competition.  Well, they were walking on Cloud 9 this week, as they made the cut.  Of 100 duos, theirs was one of the 10 chosen for the competition to be held in Florida this winter.

The program they performed for us was to be performed at a sold out concert the following day in upstate New York.   The first half included the Poulenc Sonata for One Piano Four Hands, The Schubert Fantasy in F Minor (I can't get enough of that piece), and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.    The second half consisted of the Moszkowski Spanish Dances, a Nancarrow Sonatina (crazy!)  and Ravel's Spanish Rhapsody.

In spite of their jet lag (having flown in the day before from Spain), their playing was brilliant and powerful.  They're physical beauty is only surpassed by the beauty of their sychronicity and musicality.  They truly play as one unit. 

If you ever have the chance to hear them, or an opportunity to have them booked at a venue near you, do!  You will not be disappointed.  Their website contains some samples of their playing, and they have two CDs for sale.  They will also send CDs to organizaitons contemplating booking them.

For pictures of the party, visit here:

https://well-temperedforum.groupee.net/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/9130004433/m/4280074743/p/1

[janice]

I miss seeing Elena (EHpianist) Hammel post.  I hope she comes back soon!

[athykay]

I hope that they'll have a little time before the December competition to relax a bit, and --- show up here again.