The award-winning Micallef-Inanga Piano Duo have already received many accolades spanning the globe, and their much anticipated return to the Cayman Islands for the second bi-annual Cayman Arts Festival, for which they are artistic directors, is excitedly awaited.
Jennifer Micallef and Glen Inanga have been collaborating since 1994 when they began their studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
Their instant chemistry and obvious rapport has led them to become one of the most critically acclaimed and in demand piano duos.
In just a few short years, they have gone on to win a host of competitions, from The International Schubert Piano Duo Competition Prague, 1995, The Murray Dranoff Competition, Miami 1996, and most recently the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition & Festa in Japan, 2002, to name but a few.
The duo’s winning combination have seen them go on to perform at various recitals and concerts throughout Europe, Japan, USA and Canada, performing most recently at a Commonwealth gala concert in London.
On meeting the duo it is clear to see that they have an obvious vivacity and enthusiasm for music which simply oozes from every pore.
Their sparkling characters complement each other and they have such a comfortable and easy-going rapport with each other that the conversation flows seamlessly. Neither dominates or shies away and it’s easy to see how the two have formed a winning duo.
‘We have a sense of ying and yang,’ Glen said. ‘We instinctively know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.’
The duo met while living at the same halls of residency at the Academy. Both musicians had received scholarships to attend, their musical intellect fusing them together from the outset.
‘We first got together for a fresher’s concert and carried on working as a team from there on. We entered our first competition shortly after, which we won,’ Glen added.
The concerts that the duo entered gave the musicians a platform from which to launch their musical careers, part of the prize giving the duo the opportunity to perform at professional concerts across the globe.
Word of mouth quickly spread, and by the time the duo graduated from the Academy, their diaries were already brimming full with concert dates throughout the year, their professional musical careers already well on the way to success.
Their commanding performances, coupled with their technical brilliance have already captivated audiences across the globe.
Their repertoire ranges from Chopin, Mozart Ravel, Schubert, Debussy, Ligeti, Dvorak, Stravinsky and Shostakovich, performing on a mix of either one or two pianos.
Their complementing characters are often drawn to differing piano parts. Jennifer normally takes the secondo or piano two part, whereas Glen is naturally drawn to the primo or piano one.
‘Before deciding parts we study the music. Sometimes if there is a particularly large stretch on one piano part, it’s often easier for me to perform that part as the music simply fits my hands better,’ Glen said.
The duo performs many pieces from memory, and while they often look unflappable on stage, Glen admits, the various piano parts can get confusing.
‘It’s easy to get confused at times over which part you’re playing, particularly if you played the other part in a similar version, but that’s where practice comes in.’
At the 2004 Cayman Arts Festival, the duo performed with the Cayman Islands National Orchestra. This year, to ensure the festival stays fresh, the duo has invited local pianist Vilma Garriga and internationally renowned UK pianist, organist and conductor Wayne Marshall, to perform alongside them.
‘The aim of our performance at Keyboards for Cayman will be to showcase the range of what can be performed on two pianos,’ Glen explained. ‘One highlight of the event will be Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance in a version for eight hands on two pianos.’
The duo will also perform solo, including Lutoslawski’s Variations on a theme by Paganini, Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Shostakovich’s Concertino.
Wayne Marshall will follow the duo, performing a wide selection of works on piano.
As artistic directors and founders of the festival, the duo aim to bring international guests to the Cayman Islands, while working with local art groups and schools to develop performance skills.
They work with individual artists and groups to develop unique programmes, drawing on their repertoire which spans the Baroque to world premieres.
Following their performance at the arts festival, the dynamic duo will hardly have time to take a breather, with concerts scheduled for the US, Japan, China and Singapore, and the 2008 Cayman Arts Festival.
The Micallef-Inanga Piano Duo will perform at Keyboard for Cayman, Saturday, 11 February at the First Baptist Church from 7.30pm. For further information on the festival visit www.caymanartsfestival.com, or call 914-4907.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Thursday 9 February – Workshop with the Harlem Gospel Choir, First Baptist Church, 1.30-2.30pm. The workshop is geared towards children, from nine to 18 and is free to attend.
Friday, 10 February – The world famous Harlem Gospel Choir perform popular music and gospel hits at the First Baptist Church, Crewe Road from 7.30pm.
Saturday, 11 February – Jennifer Micallef and Glen Inanga, of the Micallef-Inanga Piano Duo, perform alongside Wayne Marshall and Vilma Garriga at Keyboards for Cayman – First Baptist Church, Crewe Road, 7.30pm.
Monday 13 to Tuesday 14 February – Roy Ayers ‘King of the Vibes’ and Friends – Jazz Performances, Marriott Hotel, 8.30pm. Jazz nights will also feature Caymanian jazz groups Hi Tide and Cool School (Monday night) and Intransit and Mainstream (Tuesday night.)
Thursday, 16 February – UK, all female trombone quartet Bones Apart, First Baptist Church, Crewe Road, 7.30pm. A crowd pleaser for a wide range of music enthusiasts.
Fringe Event
Friday, 17 February – Better Read Than Dead Society perform a play by Moliere, Bacchus, from 7pm. Tickets cost $10, available on the night.
Headline Act
Saturday, 18 February – The Night of a Hundred Voices Grand Finale, First Baptist Church, Crewe Road, from 7pm, featuring the National Orchestra and Chori, soprano Deborah Riedel and tenor Paul Ferris. Conducted by Wayne Marshall.
TICKETS
Tickets for each event cost $25 in advance, available from Funky Tangs, Fosters, Reflections, The Camera Store, Micro Matrix and Z99. An all-inclusive ticket for all five headlining acts costs $100. Tickets can also be purchased on the door for $30. Friday’s Fringe event, featuring the Better Read Than Dead Society will cost $10, available on the door. For further information visit www.caymanartsfestival.com, or call 914-4907.
Related Videos
