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 world’s most renowned piano duos.
Acclaimed by both the public and critics alike as two musicians with an extraordinary capacity to move an audience to tears, the duo also exhibits a 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. New York critics have called them “the kings of the piano four hands”.
Since 1987 when they began playing together, Carles and Sofia’s international career has led them to appear in famous venues like Carnegie Hall (New York), Palau de la Música Catalana (Barcelona), Sala Verdi (Milano), Glinka Philarmonic Hall (Saint Petersburg) or the Teatro Solís (Montevideo), among others.
They regularly perform in world capitals in recital for four hands or with orchestras including London City Chamber Orchestra, Orquestra Simfònica de Sao Paulo, Orchestre de Chambre du Namurois, Tokio Chamber Orchestra, Malaysia Philarmonic Orchestra and Hermitage State Orchestra.
Both were born in Girona (Catalonia, Spain) and showed exceptional musical talent early on. After graduating college in Barcelona Conservatory, they continued their musical training, first in 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 21st century and includes all major works for piano four hands together with the most brilliant and demanding orchestral transcriptions. They also have developed a very close relationship with many contemporary composers, like John Carmichael or Daniel Basomba, who, after listening to the duo, created works especially for them.
Outstanding artists from the KNS-classical label, Carles & Sofia’s discography includes more than 10 CDs with the most outstanding works by Schubert, Brahms, Rachmaninov, the integral of works by John Carmichael, their exclusive Spanish repertoire by Albéniz and De Falla and also the unique and exclusive projects “Goyescas” and “Brahms Lieder“.
Carles and Sofia are also involved in a variety of different efforts geared towards promoting and spreading classical music and classical artists, having founded and developed different series of concerts and festivals, along with TV projects.
As a part of their passion for education, they have been invited to lecture and teach Master Classes in many different European and Asian countries, including Italy, Greece, Germany, France, China, Japan, Thailand and Singapore.
Carles and Sofia have always been committed to helping with social needs. In 2001, her Royal Highness Margarita de Borbón presented to them 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 have been awarded with the Estrella de Oro a la Excelencia Profesional and
the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en el Trabajo in 2017 and the Cruz Europea de Oro, in 2018.
Colour, Rhythm, Fire
"Lullaby for a Sleeping Doll" by John Carmichael
Passion, Energy, Strenght
"Polonaise in B Flat Major, Op. 75 No.2" Franz Schubert
“Poetry that reaches one´s heart” …”As precise as synchronized swimmers, down to the last detail”
SINDELFINGEN
“From the first note, there was an absolute blend and a perfect rapport in each of the concert’s passages… ” “The pieces sounded as if they were played by one set of hands, as if they were from a single mould. Fantastic!”
COTTBUSER KULTUR
“Duo with a rare and spectacular synchronisation …” “They make a show of a beautiful quality of sound and of a rich variety of colours … “Their technical qualities shine in the service of a truly great power to communicate and a capacity for expression …”
SCHERZO MAGAZINE
“Their musicianship is never in doubt, and there is a unity in thought and spirit that drives the music forward…This is a totally musical reading, one that comes with the chemistry of years working together”
INKPOT SINGAPORE
“Carles Lama & Sofia Cabruja are not two pianists playing on one piano; they are only one performer, one head, one sound, one synchronization, one phrasing, one poetry… They have a total mutual understanding, on the rhythm, on the spirit…”
CRONACHE SALERNO
“A perfectly mixed and balanced sound … all magnificently adjusted… A very well interpreted beautiful piece …” “A dynamic and poetic trajectory that ended in a vortex…” “Far removed from the typical exaggerated Spanish folklore of deep Spain, with heart and soul.”
EST RÉPUBLICAIN
“The duo is surprising for their sense of ensemble (two pianists that sound wise seem to be one), their joviality and their deep and up-to-date reading of each work … The duo’s achievements and versatility are dazzling”
KLASSICAA.COM
“Their Schubert is elegant and refined…The waltzes by Brahms present some complexities of expression which Lama and Cabruja resolve with the greatest elegance…Their Brahms possesses a renowned symphonic sound, a majesty evident in the touch…”
CD COMPACT
“Carles Lama and Sofia Cabruja complement each other admirably and form a duet of pianists that interpret the repertoire of piano for four hands with infinite elegance and sensitivity. They are very sure of their technique, which makes it possible for them to give themselves totally to the interpretation without worrying about the difficulties of the score… The musicians knew how to give this admirable piece of music, “The Fantasy in F Minor” by Schubert, which causes both tears and smiles, a palpable intensity with moving passages… the two dances by Falla swept the spectators up into a flaming whirlwind… “
VERS L´AVENIR
“What these two Catalans allow one to hear sounds as a whole … “
BÜRGERHAUS SUD
“A brilliant arrangement of the Two Dances from La vida breve by Manuel de Falla… truly the best of the evening: brilliantly vital, rhythmically elegant, with detailed agogics, colourful, virtuoso and a triumphant atmosphere of sound.”
RHEIN-NECKAR ZEITUNG
“Carles Lama and Sofia Cabruja played surprisingly precisely everything that was written… However, precision is just one of the aspects the duo showed. Even more interesting is the combined presentation of the work, one playing above the other and how one would react with the other at certain moments, the combined movement of the two was in short: artistic chemistry.”
SAALE ZEITUNG
“The special chemistry that the four-hand interpretations of the duet of pianists Carles Lama and Sofia Cabruja is undeniable… The Fantasia in F Minor is found matured in their hands and has a sound fully enveloped in Schubert’s elegant and seductive ambiance… The variations on Brahms are brought about with a rich treatment of sound and with an always-solid second piano that supplies a resonance suitable for the character of each variation and that continually helps the cantabiles of the first piano… …The CD contains some priceless Slavic Dances by Dvorák… Lama and Cabruja offer us a surprising Dance op. 72 No. 2, with a well-achieved lyricism”
REVISTA DE GIRONA
“The lead of this recording, by the record company KNS classical, is played by the duet made up by Carles Lama & Sofia Cabruja playing piano for four hands… The interpretation by the pianists is kind and delicate and always respects the laws of artistic and musical sensitivity. It offers us truly graceful moments.”
LA PORTA CLÀSSICA
“Immediately demonstrating an irreproachable understanding, they have demonstrated noteworthy gifts of expression…”
L´ECCO DI BERGAMO
“The temperament, the ease and gusto for life were clearly heard”
FREIBERG
