Contiguglia Twins Bring Their Phenomenal Piano Talents to Winthrop

Oct. 3, 2003

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Richard and John Contiguglia, who have been called “Phenomenal Duo-Pianists” by the Washington Post, will appear at Winthrop University on Oct. 12. Their recital will be at 3 p.m. in Frances May Barnes Recital Hall.

The native New York twins have been playing as a piano duo since the age of 5. They have performed with major orchestras throughout the world, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the National Symphony, the Boston Pops, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and Rotterdam Philharmonic. They have been seen on national television in Holland, Great Britain and the United States.

The brothers graduated in the top 1% of their class at Yale, receiving their B.A. degrees summa cum laude. Two years later, they received M.Mus. degrees from the Yale Graduate School of Music at the top of their class. The brothers spent four years in London studying with the legendary British pianist, Dame Myra Hess.

An important part of their career has involved discovering, performing and recording unusual and forgotten works from the duo-piano repertoire. The two recently created their own recording company, Gemini CD Classics, LLC, to produce and market their own CDs. (http://www.duopianistscontiguglia.com)

During the Contiguglias’ career, many critics have responded in superlatives to their distinctive and unique musical partnership and style. Richard Contiguglia said ultimately the response of the public is what matters to them, not what the critics have said. “The most rewarding aspect of what we do is experiencing the joy of audiences’ responses to our music,” he said.

Their Rock Hill recital will feature musical scores by Beethoven, Grainger and Gershwin, and Schubert.

 “We want to bring our music to any community, especially those with educational institutions such as Winthrop University, where there is a need and a desire to hear the great treasure-trove of music for one and two pianos,” said Richard Contiguglia.

“I would like to call attention to the fact that my brother and I perform without the ‘benefit’ of microphones, amplifiers and the like. One can hear what an instrument, such as the piano, really sounds like,” he continued. “I hope that college students will come to hear the magnificent sound of two Steinway pianos in a small recital hall on Oct. 12, as we perform live some of the greatest music ever written.”

Their recital is the first of two concerts planned in a new piano series at Winthrop, known as the Adams Foundation Piano Recital Series. A second concert is planned for pianist Ruth Laredo on Feb. 22.

Tickets for the Oct. 12 recital must be purchased in advance and are $15 each. To reserve tickets, call the music department at 803-323-2255.