Morning Echoes Gemini Duo

• Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907): Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo):
• 1 Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo): I. Morning Mood. Allegretto pastorale 03:41
• 2 Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo): II. Death of Åse. Andante doloroso 03:36
• 3 Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo): III. Anitra's Dance. Tempo di Mazurka 03:03
• 4 Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo): IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King. Alla marcia e molto marcato 02:42
• Aleksandr Borodin (1833 - 1887): Prince Igor:
• 5 Borodin: Prince Igor: Dance of the Polovtsian Maidens. Presto (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 02:06
• 6 Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances: a. Introduction. Andantino (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 02:32
• 7 Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances: b. Allegro vivo (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 01:08
• 8 Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances: c. Allegro "General Dance" (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 01:52
• 9 Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances: d. Presto (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 01:15
• 10 Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances: e. Moderato alla breve (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 01:22
• 11 Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances: f. Presto (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 01:17
• 12 Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances: g. Allegro con spirito (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 01:21
• Léon Boëllmann (1862 - 1897): Suite gothique, Op. 25 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo):
• 13 Boëllmann: Suite gothique, Op. 25 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo): I. Introduction – Choral 01:55
• 14 Boëllmann: Suite gothique, Op. 25 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo): II. Menuet gothique 02:00
• 15 Boëllmann: Suite gothique, Op. 25 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo): III. Prière à Notre-Dame 03:47
• 16 Boëllmann: Suite gothique, Op. 25 (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo): IV. Toccata 03:12
• Astor Piazzolla (1921 - 1992): Milonga del Ángel (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo):
• 17 Piazzolla: Milonga del Ángel (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 05:05
• Escualo (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo):
• 18 Piazzolla: Escualo (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 03:14
• Traditional: 3 Chinese Folk Songs (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Lei Zhenbang):
• 19 Traditional: 3 Chinese Folk Songs (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Lei Zhenbang): II. Why Is the Flower So Red 02:34
• Lullaby (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo):
• 20 Traditional: Lullaby (Arr. for 2 Accordions by Gemini Duo) 02:35
• Total Runtime 50:17

Info for Morning Echoes

Gemini Duo, formed by twin accordionists Wanxu Zhao and Wanchen Zhao, originates from China and has been based in Copenhagen since 2019. The duo continues their studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music (RDAM) under Professor Geir Draugsvoll, currently focusing on the chamber ensemble soloist program.

In addition to performing original accordion works, Gemini Duo explores the creative potential of transcription, reimagining classical masterpieces through the expressive voice of the accordion. Their repertoire spans from Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky to Piazzolla and contemporary composers, reflecting both tradition and innovation.

Their new album "Morning Echoes" features inventive duo arrangements of works such as Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances, Boëllmann’s Suite gothique, Piazzolla tangos and more, showcasing their range and artistic vision.

The duo has performed at prestigious venues such as the Berliner Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall (New York), Vienna Musikverein, Tivoli Concert Hall, Shanghai Grand Theatre, and Shenzhen Grand Theatre, as well as at festivals and concert halls across Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Croatia, Portugal, China, and Denmark.

Gemini Duo has achieved remarkable success in international competitions, including 1st Prize at the PIF Castelfidardo International Accordion Competition (Italy, 2022), 1st Prize at the 46th Pula International Accordion Competition, 1st Prize at the Rising Stars Grand Prix (Berlin), and 1st Prize at the Manhattan International Music Competition. They were also awarded the Grand Prize at the Vienna International Music Competition, open to all instruments.

Renowned for their dynamic performances, Gemini Duo brings a new dimension to the chamber music genre. Performing without sheet music, they combine virtuosic precision with an extraordinary level of communication—something only twins can share—captivating audiences with both orchestral transcriptions and contemporary works.

Wanxu Zhao, accordion
Wanchen Zhao, accordion

Please Note: We offer this album in its native sampling rate of 48kHz, 24-bit. The provided 192kHz version was up-sampled and offers no audible value!

Gemini Duo
The accordion duo Gemini Duo, consisting of the twins Wanchen Zhao and Wanxu Zhao, are master students at RDAM under Professor Geir Draugsvoll and have just won 1st prize at the Vienna International Music Competition.

As a result of this 1st prize, they have been invited to perform at the legendary Musikverein in Vienna in April 2024. Furthermore, over the past year, Gemini Duo has been 1st prize winners at the Manhattan Music Competition and Rising Stars Grand Prix in Berlin, giving them the opportunity to play concerts in all three 'big' concert venues Carnegie Hall in New York, Berliner Philharmonien in Berlin and Musikverein in Vienna.

All three competitions were in the category for chamber music with no age limit and no instrumental restrictions. It is rare for accordionists to find their way through such a needle's eye, and Gemini Duo has therefore presented new perspectives on classical chamber music to both the jury and the audience.

According to the jury, Gemini Duo adds a whole new dimension to the chamber music genre, emphasising the fact that they convey large orchestral transcriptions as well as complex new music - without sheet music and with a communication between them that is almost only possible for twins.

Gemini Duo also has other genres in their repertoire, and will be heard under the auspices of RDAM at Tivoli's concert series 'Con Amore' on 8 June, where they will perform Astor Piazzolla's double concerto 'Hommage a Liege' in an arrangement for two accordions and strings together with fellow string students.

Booklet for Morning Echoes