The Bergmann Piano Duo in a world premiere performance of "Fantasy on themes from Rossini's La Cenerentola" by Canadian composer, Marcel Bergmann. Presented in July 2012, the "Fantasy" was commissioned by Sfmf for the 4th Milton & Peggy Salkind International Piano Duo Festival and made possibile by sponsors, Scott and Kassandra Edwards with a matching grant from Chevron. This performance is from the closing concert of 2012 Salkind Piano Duo Festival held in San Francisco, which featured a "Parisian Fete" highlighting music from Paris during its "golden age" from 1870-1925. The 2012 Festival also celebrated Debussy's 150th anniversary as well as music and composers with a connection to 1812,1912 & 2012. For more information on Sfmf and the Salkind International Piano Duo Festival, visit:http://www.sfmf.org/
The Bergmann Duo
Canadian pianists, Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann became a piano duo while studying with Arie Vardi at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Hannover, Germany and later with Jean-Eudes Vaillancourt at the Université de Montréal. The Bergmann Duo's dynamic and energetic performances of uniquely eclectic programs have inspired audiences for more than two decades. Their recitals and concerts with orchestra have taken them to many parts of the world, including the United States, Italy, Germany, Holland, Greece and Canada. The Bergmann Duo has appeared at numerous international festivals and received first prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Caltanissetta, Italy and at The 4th Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition in Florida. The duo's CD productions include recordings for the Arktos, Koch International, Brilliant Classics and Naxos labels. Their extensive repertoire ranges from the baroque to the contemporary and incorporates numerous arrangements by the duo and original compositions. In addition to their performing careers they enjoy teaching and working in other capacities of the music industry.http://www.bergmannduo.com/Biography....
About the composer
Pianist, composer and improviser, Marcel Bergmann has a broad range of musical interest and experience in both, classical and popular music. His diverse background is reflected in his compositions, including a variety of styles and genres. Besides his international performing career with his wife Elizabeth as the Bergmann Piano Duo, he has been involved as composer and musical director in a variety of theatre, cabaret and multimedia projects, such as Baden Rebelliert (Bruchsal, Germany, 1998, including 30 performances throughout Baden-Württemberg), Online an der Leine, which had its premiere during EXPO 2000 in Hannover/Germany, and Der Avatar (2001). The Bavarian Television, Arte and other European broadcasting corporations, have broadcast his music for television features.
In 2004, he was a composer-in-residence for Calgary Opera's Let's create an Opera programme. In December 2005, Marcel's "Urban Pulse" for two pianos was premiered as the commissioned work for The 10th Dranoff International 2 Piano Competition (past commissioned composers included Morton Gould, Ned Rorem, William Bolcom and John Corigliano). His music appears on the Canadian National Conservatory's series Making Tracks- An Expedition in Canadian Piano Music. He has been commissioned by various organizations including the CBC, the Land's End Chamber Ensemble, the Spiritus Chamber Choir, the Langley Community Music School and the San Francisco International Music Festival. Marcel is an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre. http://www.marcelbergmann.com/Welcome...
