Güher & Süher Pekinel-Pianist

Güher and Süher Pekinel have an international reputation as one of the leading piano duos of exceptional virtuosity and electrifying expressive power. Pekinel’s are the only Duo worldwide, sitting back to back and playing without any eye contact in order to concentrate on their own personal “breath of musical momentum”.

They first appeared in public at the age of six, three years later they made their debut in a live radio performance with the Ankara Philharmonic. They started their studies at the Conservatoire de Paris, and later moved to the Musikhochschule in Frankfurt. They completed their Master’s degrees at the Juilliard School.  Including the first prize at the UNESCO World Music Competition during which they were representing Germany, Pekinel’s were awarded first prizes as soloists and as a duo in several international competitions in Germany, Italy and the in the USA.

Herbert von Karajan personally played an important role in their professional careers by inviting them in 1984 to the Salzburg Festival and opened the gateway to an international career. They are also Honorary State Artists of Turkey and holders of honorary PhDs from the Bogaziçi University in Istanbul.

Pekinel’s extensive discography with the most prestigious labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Teldec, CBS, Chandos and Warner Classics includes recordings of most important works for piano duos. Among others their West Side Story album which Leonard Bernstein re-arrangenged personally for them was nominated the “Album of the Year” and their best-selling “Take Bach” Jazz project with Jacques Loussier brought sales records. Their latest release, a recording of Bach’s concertos for two and three pianos as well as works of Brahms and Saint-Säens were chosen “Best Album of the Week and of the Month” by The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian.

The above is a summary  taken from the offical website of Pekinel sisters. For detailed information please click.

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