Carles & Sofia Piano Duo
Steinway Artists Carles Lama and Sofia Cabruja are a paragon of artistic talent in the world of classical music and one of Europe’s most renowned piano duos.
Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike as two musicians with an extraordinary capacity to move audiences, the duo is unique for their spectacular synchronisation and a very rare mutual understanding. Carles and Sofia have gained critical acclaim for their brilliant technique, passion, unparalleled quality of sound and infinite elegance. Since the inception of the duo in 1987, their international career has brought them to renowned venues including Carnegie Hall (New York), Teatro Solís (Montevideo), Glinka Philharmonic Hall (St. Petersburg) and the Palau de la Música Catalana (Barcelona). They regularly perform in world capitals in recital for four hands or with orchestras including the London City Chamber Orchestra, the Orquestra Simfònica de Sao Paulo, the Orchestre de Chambre du Namurois, the Tokio Chamber Orchestra, the Malaysia Philarmonic Orchestra and the Hermitage State Orchestra.
Both were born in Girona (Catalonia, Spain) and showed exceptional musical talent early on. After completing their studies at the Barcelona Conservatory, they continued their musical training, first at the Ecole Normale in Paris, then at Hartt School of Music (University of Hartford, USA). The two professors who had the greatest influence on the duo are the Russian pianist Nina Svetlanova and the Brazilian pianist Luiz de Moura Castro. Their repertoire ranges from Bach to the 21st century and includes all major works for piano four hands along with brilliant and demanding orchestral transcriptions. They also have developed a very close relationship with many contemporary composers, like John Carmichael or Daniel Basomba, who responded by composing new works especially for them. Carles and Sofia are recording artists of the KNS-classical label with a discography including the Schubert Fantasy in F Minor, Brahms Waltzes Op. 39, the Rachmaninoff Suite Op. 11, the complete works for four hands by Australian composer John Carmichael as well as acclaimed recordings of Spanish composers Albéniz, Granados and De Falla.
Carles and Sofia are devoted to promoting and spreading classical music in a variety of different forms and have founded and developed different series of concerts and festivals, alongside many projects for television. They are also passionate educators and have been invited to lecture and teach master classes in many different European and Asian countries, including Italy, Greece, Germany, France, China, Japan and Singapore. Carles and Sofia have always been engaged in social causes: In 2001, her Royal Highness Margarita de Borbón presented them with an honorary distinction from UNICEF, in recognition of their humanitarian efforts. In 2012, they founded their own solidarity project: Concerts4Good, Music on a Mission.
Carles & Sofia are also active in expanding the repertoire for piano four hands, commissioning new original pieces, as well as transcriptions of orchestral works. Two of the most successful projects they have been involved in are: “And the Winner Is…” and “Goyescas”. “And the Winner Is…” is a film music project that involves repertoire for piano four hands and string orchestra. “Goyescas” is the transcription of Granados’ famous opera, premiered by Carles & Sofia on January 28th, 2016 at Carnegie Hall, exactly 100 years after Granados’premiere of the opera, at the Metropolitan in New York. Carles & Sofia have been awarded with the Estrella de Oro a la Excelencia Profesional, the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en el Trabajo and the Cruz Europa de Oro.
