Duo Egri-Pertis

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The Pleyel Double Grand Piano is truly a unique musical instrument, as only a handful now remain throughout the world. Some 50 double grand pianos were produced in the Pleyel piano factory in Paris but, sadly, most of these were eventually destroyed in the mayhem of two world wars.
This type of musical instrument was originally developed by the company in the 19th century and the last double grand was said to have left the factory in around 1930.

"Das Instrument ist ein historisches Kuriosum!"

( Die Presse - Wilhelm Sinkovicz, 23. February 2001)

"Auf den ersten Blick ist es verwunderlich, daß sich Idee und technische Entwicklung des sogenannten "Pleyel Double Grand Piano" in der Konzert- und Aufführungspraxis engagierter Klavierduoformationen nicht durchsetzen konnte."

(Peter Cossé - Klassik Heute, September 2000)

The Duo Egri and Pertis at the Double Piano

The two keyboards are placed at opposite ends of this 2.5 meter long instrument that weighs nearly 600 kilograms. The brilliance of the design lies in the fact that, although the two pianos are housed in one body, both have their own sets of wires, pedals and mechanism. (With a special switch, the Pleyel design also makes it possible for one of the players to operate the pedals of the other if necessary, and this of course also works the other way round.) At the same time, the casting and the resonance - an important element of the instrument - are common to both. All the sounds produced are emitted in a shared space, the overtones enrich each other, and all of this results in a warm and wonderfully full sound.

"....a remarkable 1904 Pleyel Double Grand Piano. Each keyboard has its own string system, pedals, and action, but they share a soundboard and frame in a large rectangular wooden case. It must be great fun to play, and the resulting sound is warm and well blended."

(Alexander Morin - American Record Guide May 2001)

The instrument embodies all that a piano duo works for, namely the confluence of the two parts into a unified sound.

"Natürlich fühlen sich zwei Spieler an solch einem Janusköpfigen Flügel noch enger miteinander verbunden, erleben je eigene klangliche Maßnahmen in deckungsgleicher Fusion mit jenen des Gegenübers. Und der hier verwendete Pleyel klingt nicht nur voll und aromatisch, sondern nervig in den Spitzen und mitteilungsfreudig in allen Belangen."

(Peter Cossé - Klassik Heute, September 2000)

The fact that, little short of a miracle, a double grand manufactured in 1904 - having escaped the catastrophe of two world wars - suddenly appeared for sale in Switzerland in 1995, brought a decisive moment in the career of the Egri & Pertis Duo. The instrument has consequently been in the duo's possession since 1996.

"From an acoustic point of view, over and above the legendary buoyancy of Pleyel pianos and the well-known preciseness of their action, (...) this beautiful monster also has the advantage that the two parts emit the sound in the same space, they resonate and enrich each other. Every piano-loving person will be eager to hear this sound."

(Répertoire - Jaques Bonnaure, May 2002)

"Als wäre der Pleyel-Doppelflügel, eine ausgesprochene Instrumenten-Rarität, für das Klavierduo gebaut worden, so beherrschen Monika Egri & Attila Pertis die Kunst des Paarspiels ...."

(Georgina Szeless - Neues Volksblatt 22. June 1999)

"The two instruments built into one body have been jointly cast and, as a result, the resonance conditions are different. If sensitive musicians play their parts, given this knowledge, they are able to produce quite a unique result."

(Sztereó - Katalin Fittler,September 2000)

This particular double grand is not just a rarity but, due to its excellent condition, can also be employed for its originally intended purpose in concert halls. This has made it possible to present this instrument at several prominent festivals. Among these, the début of the Egri & Pertis Duo in the renowned Vienna Musikverein during the Festival Weeks in May 2000 was an outstanding event.

"Zusätzlichen Reiz erhielt dieses Konzert durch den delikaten Klang des Pleyel-Doppelflügels (zwei Klaviere in einem Resonanzkörper)."

(Hildegard Siess - Wiener Zeitung, 15. Mai 2000)

Monika Egri and Attila Pertis have also introduced the double grand to the Hungarian audience at their concert "Chopiniana" which was held on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Chopin's death.

Following this successful performance, the Hungaroton Classic Double Grand Piano Series of special CD recordings was initiated. So far, three CDs have been produced from this series, namely "Pleyel and His Contemporaries", "Chopiniana" and "Duettino", the latter consisting of Saint-Saëns compositions.

"The Double Grand Piano (made in the Pleyel piano factory in 1904) can equally demand the attention of people interested in curiosities and of those who "simply" just want to enjoy the sound."

(Sztereó - Katalin Fittler, May 2000)


These recordings have also been much acknowledged by music journals such as Klassik Heute, American Record Guide, Répertoire, Classics Today and Piano & Keyboard. In September 2000, the jury of Klassik Heute chose the CD "Pleyel and His Contemporaries" as the recommendation of the month.

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