Dvořák Symphony No. 9 (Transcription for Piano Duet) Duo Solot

• Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884): Má Vlast, JB 1:112
• 1 II. Vltava (Die Moldau) 11:22
• 2 III. Sarka 10:32
• Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): Symphony No. 9 Op. 95, From the New World
• 3 I. Adagio - Allegro molto 11:26
• 4 II. Largo 09:56
• 5 III. Molto vivace 07:59
• 6 IV. Allegro con fuoco 11:13
• Total Runtime 01:02:28

Info for Dvořák Symphony No. 9 (Transcription for Piano Duet)

Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák, those two Bohemians shaped by the history, traditions and nature of their beloved homeland, developed a music which, while national in spirit, also displays broader passions. Their notes conjure imposing narratives and vast landscapes, brought to vivid life by means of subtle coloration. Different as they were, the music of both men spanned the world, astonishingly free of the dictates of fashion and preserving a freshness that remains to this day. The transcriptions for piano duet (four hands) performed by the Duo Solot are from the composers themselves. It is a delight to note the quality of the pianistic writing in these arrangements, which showcase the resonant and percussive qualities of the instrument and its ability to project a mass of sound, yet also emphasise the clarity of the melodic and rhythmic discourse, precisely delineating the works’ polyphonic riches. In short, a perfect opportunity to discover these very familiar pieces with new ears…

Stéphanie Salmin, piano
Pierre Solot, piano

Stéphanie Salmin
is a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Mons, Belgium’s Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and the Bern University of the Arts. She studied with Françoise Dupont, Dalia Ouziel and Aleksandar Madzar. Stéphanie Salmin performs with numerous European orchestras (Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Bern Symphony Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia etc) and has won several prizes at various piano competitions.

Pierre Solot
is a graduate of the Brussels Royal Conservatory and the Eduardo del Pueyo Musical Centre. He studied in particular with Véronique Delemazure and Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden. In addition, Pierre Solot has a degree in musicology from the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) in Paris. He has also written a novel and a play.

Stéphanie and Pierre met in 2008 and formed the Duo Solot a year later, by which time they were married. In 2010 they won third prize at the Valberg International Piano Four- Hands Competition in France. They give recitals in Europe and Asia, covering both the four-hands and two-piano repertoires, as well as performing with orchestras and choirs. They also perform in various multimedia stage productions. In 2011 they released their first disc, devoted to Rossini operatic transcriptions, for Pavane Records.

Booklet for Dvořák Symphony No. 9 (Transcription for Piano Duet)