Treasures Box
An Exclusive Selection of Pekinels’ Wide-Ranging Repertoire
Treasures Box, an archival masterpiece from the Pekinel Piano Duo, who are described as “the best pianist duo in the world after Arthur and Karl Ulrich Schnabel” by Alexander Letvin, the editor of The Pianist Magazine, one of the UK’s leading music critics, continues to meet music lovers with its limited edition.
Treasures Box, featuring a selection of the Pekinels’ live performances, which are described as “at least as successful and breathtaking as their studio recordings” by critics, is on sale as a special edition at selected sales points and online platforms around the world. Followed closely by the international music world with their professional musical understanding and unique styles, the Pekinels met their listeners this time with an album, which is more a treasure chest archive than only an anthology of a special selection of their valuable live performances.
The extensive discographies of the Pekinels, whose musical successes extend beyond the borders of the country and are interpreted by important music authorities as the magic fingers of the piano, have been collected in a special album with the Arthaus Music/Unitel label, with new recordings that have not been heard anywhere. Including the most important concert recordings that resonated all over the world and also the major works performed by the duo, Treasures Box is a masterpiece.
Süher Pekinel about Treasures Box: “We have meticulously prepared a selection of our professional career of our long musical journey, on 7 CDs, 2 Blu-Rays and 4 DVDs and 1 Book of 108 pages about our background and thoughts. We are very excited to receive great attention and praise from leading internationally respected music authorities and critics.”
Güher Pekinel: “Live concert recordings always reveal the artist in all their purity and nakedness. From this perspective, every concert is a new surprise and moment of creation. No matter how well you master the piece, it is not possible to play the same piece in the same way in two concerts, even if it is played successively. Because every concert artist’s changeable state of mood is shaped by a different instrument, hall acoustics and variable audience spirit. That’s why live recordings are the only way to capture this ‘unique’ and ‘inimitable’ moment.”
Among the selections in the album, 10 concertos for two pianos and orchestra take an important place. In addition, the live recording of Güher & Süher Pekinel’s Bartók concert in Italy with the Maggio Musicale di Fiorentino Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta for the opening of the New Florence Opera draws attention. The DVD of this concert recording crowns the artistic collaboration with Zubin Mehta for many years. In addition, the album Treasures includes the live recording with the Berlin Philharmonic percussionists Raphael Haeger and Simon Rössler, and the record-breaking DVDs and CDs they recorded with the Jacques Loussier Trio. Celebrating its centennial in 2021, Bernstein’s concert recordings of West Side Story adapted for the Pekinels and the recordings of Ciaconna’s piece chosen and adapted for them by Penderecki are also in the set.
The Pekinels’ orchestral engagements include performances with distinguished orchestras such as the Berliner Philharmoniker, Vienna Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, İsrail Philharmonic, London Philharmonia, London Philharmonic, London Royal Philharmonic, München Philharmonic, Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw, Orchestre National de France, Orchestra dell’ Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Philadelphia and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orkestraları. At their extensive recital tours, spanning the major music halls of Europe, Far East, among them Japan, and the United States, they have received wide critical acclaim for their extraordinary poetical musicality, pianistic perfection with genuine style and interpretation.
Content in the Box
Pekinels play West Side Story
- Live from the Borusan American Festival, Istanbul Lütfi Kirdar International Concert Hall, 15.12.2015
- Percussions: Raphael Haeger and Simon Rössler (Berlin Philharmonic)
Zubin Mehta: Güher & Süher Pekinel in Concert
- Live from the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 2012 | Percussions: Lorenzo D’Attoma and Fausto Cesare Bombardier | Orchestra del Maggio Musicale – Conducted by Zubin Mehta
- Bartók: Concerto for two pianos, percussion and orchestra, BB 121
- Live from the Ludwigsburg International Music Festival 2010
- Schubert: Fantasia for four hands in F minor, op. 103, D. 940 | Mozart: Sonata for two pianos in D major, K 448 | Debussy: En blanc et noir for two pianos, L 134 | Infante: 3 Danses Andalouse for two pianos | Poulenc: Élégie (en accords alternés) for two pianos, FP 175 | Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F sharp minor
Live from the Schwetzingen Festival 2001: Güher & Süher Pekinel feat. Jacques Loussier Trio – Bach Concertos
- Opening
Johann Sebastian Bach: Concerto in D minor for three pianos, BWV 1063
- Allegro 3. Movement, Jazz Version
Johann Sebastian Bach: Concerto in C minor for two pianos and strings, BWV 1060
- Allegro 1. Movement, Jazz Version
- End Credits
Live form Cadogan Hall, London 2007 | English Chamber Orchestra – Conducted by Sir Colin Davis
Johann Sebastian Bach: Concerto in C minor for two pianos and strings, BWV 1062
- Allegro
- Andandte
- Allegro assai
- End Credits
Documentary „Double Life – Güher and Süher Pekinel“ by Hanno Rinke
Concert live from the Cadogan Hall, London 2007 | English Chamber Orchestra – Conducted by Sir Colin Davis
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto No. 10 in E flat major for two pianos, K 365a
- Opening
- Allegro
- Andante
- Rondeau. Allegro
- End Credits
Concert live from Tonhalle Zurich 2007 | Zurich Chamber Orchestra – Conducted by Muhai Tang
Francis Poulenc: Concerto in D minor for two pianos, FP 61
- Opening
- Allegro ma non troppo
- Larghetto
- Finale, Allegro Molto
Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche Suite for two pianos, op. 165b
- Brazileira – Mouvement de Samba
- End Credits
Concert live from the Luzern Piano Festival 2006
Johannes Brahms: Sonata in F minor for two pianos, op.34 b
- Allegro non troppo 1. Movement
Sergei Rachmaninov: “Fantaisie-tableaux” Suite No. 1 for two pianos, op. 5
- Adagio sostenuto „la nuit … L´amour…“ 2. Movement
Witold Lutosławski: Paganini Variations
- Allegro Capriccioso
- End Credits
Interview with Güher & Süher Pekinel 2009
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Fuga in G minor, K401 (375e)
Johannes Brahms: Sonata for two pianos in F mino op. 34b
- Allegro non tropo
- Andante, un poco adagio
- Scherzo: Alegro -Trio
- Finale: poco sostenuto-Allegro non troppo
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Fantasia for Mechanical organ in F minor, K 608 (Composer´s transcription for 4 hands)
- Allegro
- Andante
- Allegro
Franz Liszt: Mephisto´s Waltz No. 1 (The Dance in the Village Inn)
- Allegro vivace (quasi Presto)
- Un poco meno mosso
- Presto fantastico
- Poco allegretto rubato
- Presto
- Un poco meno mosso (come prima)
- Piu mosso
- Presto
- Premiere Coda
- Presto
Maurice Ravel: La Valse, Poème Choréographique
(Composer´s transcription for 4 hands)
Igor Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps, Scenes of a Pagan Russia in two parts, Version for piano duet
Part one: The adoration of the Earth
- Introduction (Lento)
- The Augurs of Spring. Dance of the Young Girls
- Mock Abduction
- Spring Round Dances
- Games of the Rival Tribes
- Procession ot the Wise Elder
- The Wise Elder – Dance of the Earth
Part two: The Sacrifice
- Introduction (Largo)
- Mystical Circles of the Young Girls
- Glorification of the Chosen Victim
- Summoning of the Ancestors
- Ritual of the Ancestors
- Sacrificial Dance. The Chosen Victim
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Suite No. 1 for two pianos, op.5 „Fantasie-Tableau“
- Barcarolle. Allegretto
- La nuit … L’amour. Adagio sostenuto – Agitato
- Les Larmes. Largo di molto
- Paques. Allegro maestoso
Francis Poulenc: Élégie (en accord alternés) for two pianos, FP 175
- Très calme et mélancolique
Ernesto Lecuona: Suite Andalucia for piano No. 6: Malagueña
- Allegro moderato | Lento (à la capriccio) | Moderato
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Suite No. 2 for two pianos, op. 17
- Valse. Presto
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C mino for two pianos, K 426
- Adagio
- Allegro moderato
Camille Saint-Saëns: Variations on a theme of Ludwig van Beethoven, op. 35
Theme. Moderato assai | Variation 1. Tempo di Minuetto | Variation 2. Allegro | Variation 3: Poco più mosso | Variation 4. Tempo del Tema | Variation 5. Molto allegro | Variation 6. Moderato assai | Variation 7. Presto leggerissimo | Variation 8. Alla marcia funebre (Allegro moderato) | Variation 9. Allegro | Variation 10: Presto
Enrique Granados: Goyescas, op. 11 No. 4 Quejas, o la Maja y el ruiseñor. Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dances No. 5, 7, 17, 20, 21
- No. 5 in F sharp minor
- No. 7 in A major
- No. 17 in F sharp minor
- No. 20 in E minor
- No. 21 in E minor
Maurice Ravel: Rhapsodie Espagnole
- Prélude à la nuit
- Malagueña
- Habanera
- Feria
Johannes Brahms: Nos. 1, 2, 11, 14 & 15 from 16 Waltzes, op. 39 arranged by Brahms for two pianos
- No. 1. in B major (Tempo giusto)
- No. 2 in E major
- No. 11 in B minor
- No.14 in G sharp minor
- No 15 in A Flat major
Johann Sebastian Bach „Jesus bleibet meine Freude“ Chorale from Cantata No. 147
Manuel Infante: Three Danses Andalouses for two pianos
- Sentimento
Leonard Berstein: West Side Story, Symphonic Dances for two pianos and two percussions (adapted and supervised two piano version by Leonard Bernstein for Pekinels, wirtten by Paul McKibbins and Robert Philips.
- Percussionists: Peter Sadlo and Stefan Gagelmann (recorded 1988)
- Prologue (Allegro Moderato) | Somewhere (Adagio) | Scherzo ( Vivace e Leggiero) | Mambo (Meno Presto) | Cha-Cha (Andantino Con Grazia) | Meeting Scene ( Meno Mosso) | Cool, Fugue (Allegretto) | Rumble (Molto Allegretto) | Finale (Adagio)
Krzysztof Penderecki: Ciaccona in memoriam Giovanni Paolo II (Adapted and supervised two piano version by Krzysztof Penderecki for Pekinels, written by Stanislaw Deja)
Bela Bartok: Sonata for two pianos and two percussions, BB 15
Percussionists: Peter Sadlo and Stefan Gagelmann (recorded 1988)
- Assai lento – Allegro troppo
- Lento, ma non troppo
- Allegro non troppo
George Gershwin: three Preludes for two pianos (recorded 1988)
- No. 1 in B-flat major (Allegro ben ritmato e deciso)
- No. 2 in C-sharp minor (Andante con moto e poco rubato)
- No. 3 in E-flat mino (Allegro ben ritmato e deciso)
Witold Lutoslawski: Paganini Variations for two pianos and two percussions (Turkey Premiere)
- Percussionists: Simon Rössler and Raphael Haeger
- Güher & Süher Pekinel featuring Jacques Loussier Trio members, Andrè Arpino, Benoit Dunoyer de Segonzac
Johann Sebastian bach: Concerto in C minor for two pianos, BWV 1060 (Jazz Version)
- Allegro 1. Movement
Johann Sebastian bach: Concerto in C majorfor two pianos, BWV 1061 (Jazz Version)
- Adagio 2. Movement
10 classic piano concertos and
Bach Jazz Version with Jacques Loussier Trio
- Bach: Concertos in C minor for two pianos and strings BW 1062 (Classic Version), in C major for two pianos BWV 1061, in D minor for three pianos BWV 1063 and in C minor BWV 1060 | Zurich Chamber Orchestra – Conducted by Howard Griffi ts
- Bach: Concerto in D minor for three pianos BWV 1063 (Jazz Version) | Güher & Süher Pekinel featuring Jacques Loussier Trio
- Mozart: Concerto in E fl at major for two pianos K 365 Mendelssohn: Concerto in E major for two pianos with Philarmonia Orchestra – Conducted by Sir Neville Marriner
- Bruch: Concerto in A fl at minor for two pianos op. 88a | Philharmonia Orchestra – Conducted by Sir Neville Marriner
- Poulenc: Concerto in D minor for two pianos FP 61 | Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Conducted by Marek Janowski
- Bartók: Concerto for two pianos, percussion and orchestra BB 121 | Percussions: Lorenzo D’Attoma and Fausto Cesare Bombardier | Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino – Conducted by Zubin Mehta
- Saint-Saëns: Concerto Le carnaval des animaux R.125 | Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Conducted by Marek Janowski
- Milhaud: Scaramouche op. 165b (Brazileira) | Ludwigsburg International Music Festival