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Katia and Marielle Labèque facts for kids

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The Labèque sisters, Katia (born 11 March 1950) and Marielle (born 6 March 1952), are a very famous French piano duo. They are known all over the world for their incredible musical talent.

Biography

Early Life and Music Training

Katia and Marielle Labèque were born in Bayonne, a city on the southwest coast of France, close to Spain. Their father was a doctor and loved music. Their mother, Ada Cecchi, was a piano teacher and taught them when they were very young, at ages three and five.

After finishing their piano studies at the famous Conservatoire de Paris in 1968, the sisters started playing music together. They focused on pieces for two pianos or for "piano four hands" (two people playing one piano). Their first album featured music by Olivier Messiaen, and they continued to play many pieces by modern composers like Luciano Berio and Pierre Boulez.

Becoming World Famous

While their early performances were well-known, they became truly famous in 1980. Their recording of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue for two pianos sold over half a million copies!

The sisters play many different kinds of music. Besides classical music, they perform contemporary classical music (new classical music), jazz, ragtime, flamenco, minimal music, and even baroque music on old instruments. They also explore pop music and experimental rock.

They started playing baroque music in 1998 using special old pianos called fortepianos. They performed with famous orchestras like Il Giardino Armonico and the English Baroque Soloists.

The Labèque sisters have played for huge crowds. In 2005, they performed for 33,000 people at a concert with the Berlin Philharmonic. In 2016, they played for over 100,000 people at Schönbrunn Palace with the Vienna Philharmonic.

Many composers have written music especially for them. Some of these pieces include "Linea" by Luciano Berio, "Water Dances" by Michael Nyman, and a "Concerto for two pianos and orchestra" by Philip Glass. They performed Philip Glass's concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Katia and Marielle also play pieces for two pianos and percussion. They performed the first instrumental version of West Side Story and a version of Maurice Ravel's Boléro with Basque drums. They also premiered "Four Movements" by Philip Glass in several countries. In 2011, they started a project called "50 Years of Minimalism," featuring music by composers like John Cage and Steve Reich.

Recording Their Own Music

From 1970 to 1997, the sisters recorded many albums for major music companies. After a break, they started their own classical music label called KML Recordings in Italy in 2007. Through their label, they also help young bands and musicians from different music styles, including experimental rock and traditional music.

They produced the first album for the Basque trio Kalakan. They even introduced Kalakan to their friend Madonna in 2011, and the trio later joined Madonna's MDNA Tour in 2012. In 2016, the Labèque sisters partnered with Deutsche Grammophon to help distribute their KML Recordings.

In 2005, they created their own foundation, "Fondazione Katia e Marielle Labèque," in Rome. This foundation helps connect music with visual arts, supports new music for two pianos, and helps experimental music groups.

In 2012, they opened their own recording studio, "Studio KML," in an old school in Rome. This studio is a place for musicians from their Foundation and KML Recordings to meet and record. Their first recording there was "Minimalist Dream House."

Personal Lives

Katia's partner, David Chalmin, is a composer and musician. Katia was previously married to the guitarist John McLaughlin. Marielle is married to the conductor Semyon Bychkov. The sisters still live together. They lived in London and Florence before moving to a historic palace in Rome in 2005.

Discography

Recordings as a Duo

  • 1969: Olivier Messiaen, Visions De L'Amen
  • 1970: Bartok, Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion
  • 1972: Rachmaninov, 24 Preludes & Suite No. 2
  • 1972: Hindemith - Martinu
  • 1979: Marius Constant: Psyche
  • 1980: Gershwin, Rhapsody In Blue / Piano Concerto In F
  • 1981: Brahms, Hungarian dances
  • 1982: Scott Joplin, Gladrags
  • 1983: Liszt, Réminiscences de Don Juan
  • 1984: Rossini, Petite messe solennelle
  • 1984: Gershwin, An American in Paris
  • 1985: Bizet, Fauré, Ravel
  • 1987: Stravinsky, Petrouchka / Concerto For 2 Pianos
  • 1987: Gershwin, I got Rhythm - Music for Two Pianos
  • 1988: Bernstein, Symphonic dances and songs from West Side Story
  • 1990: Love of Colours
  • 1990: Dvorak, Slavonic Dances Op. 46 & 72
  • 1991: Encore !
  • 1993: España !
  • 1994: Tchaikovsky, Piano fantasy: music for two pianos
  • 1996: En blanc et noir - Debussy Album, including En blanc et noir
  • 2001: Brahms - Tchaikovsky - Debussy (compilation album)
  • 2003: Piano Fantasy (compilation album - 6 CD box)
  • 2006: Maurice Ravel
  • 2007: Stravinsky / Debussy
  • 2007: Schubert / Mozart
  • 2009: Erik Satie
  • 2010: The New CD box
  • 2011: Gershwin-Bernstein, Rhapsody in Blue - West Side Story
  • 2011: Nazareno
  • 2013: Minimalist Dream House
  • 2014: Sisters
  • 2016: Invocations
  • 2017: Love Stories
  • 2018: Amoria

Recordings with Other Artists

Filmography

  • 1990: The Loves of Emma Bardac, a TV movie
  • 2000: The Italian Bach in Vienna, a concert film
  • 2000: The Man Who Cried, a film by Sally Potter
  • 2005: Waldbühne 2005, a concert film with the Berlin Philharmonic
  • 2005: I'm Going to Tell You a Secret, a documentary about Madonna
  • 2012: The Labeque way, a documentary by Felix Cabez
  • 2016: Summer Night Concert, a concert film with the Vienna Philharmonic

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Katia y Marielle Labèque para niños

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