The opening concert of the Festival is dedicated to music for two pianos and percussion. Pianists Adolfo Vidal and Michael Linville join percussionist fellows from the New World Symphony, Alex Wadner and Christopher Riggs to play the Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion (1937) by Bela Bartok, the composer's most exhilarating masterpiece and also Astor Piazzollas' avantgarde tangos arranged for the quartet. 

Bartok's masterpiece score requires four performers: two pianists and two percussionists, who play seven instruments between them: timpani, bass drum (gran cassa), cymbals, triangle, snare drum (both on- and off- snares), tam-tam (gong) and xylophone.

A virtuoso bandoneonist, Piazzolla regularly performed his own compositions with a variety of ensembles and instrumentations, this time the tangos are arranged for two pianos and two percussionists by Dr. Federico Bonacossa. Piazzolla's music is all about passion and contagious rhythm. And what other instruments can convey this better than two pianos and percussion? Percussion is the dark side of it: its raw rhythmic force, its violence - but also its rapture and ecstasy. The pianos are the sublime, tender, sensual voice of passion. Maybe that’s why Piazzolla's music yielded surprisingly well to this arrangement. A world premier at the Festival.

A concert not to be missed!