Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 7:30 p.m.
Known for their adrenalized performances, original compositions, and notorious music videos, GREG ANDERSON and ELIZABETH JOY ROE are revolutionizing the piano duo experience for the 21st century.
Described as “the intense synchronization of genius” (ThirdCoast Digest) and “the most dynamic duo of this generation” (San Francisco Classical Voice), the Anderson & Roe Piano Duo aims to make classical music a relevant and powerful force around the world. Their recent album, When Words Fade (Steinway Label), was released to critical acclaim in 2012 and spent over a dozen weeks at the top of the Billboard Classical Charts, while their Emmy nominated and self produced music videos have been viewed by millions on YouTube. Highlights of the 2013/14 season include tours throughout North America, Asia, and South Africa; an appearance at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival; a new all Mozart album on the Steinway Label; and the release of their ambitious—and literally explosive—music film, The Rite of Spring.
Mr. Anderson and Ms. Roe met in 2000 as freshmen at The Juilliard School and formed their dynamic musical partnership shortly thereafter. They have since toured extensively, with notable recitals in Beijing, Seoul, Singapore, Italy, Vancouver, and most major US cities, as well as in nearly every New York City venue imaginable, from Carnegie Hall to children's hospitals. Together they have appeared on MTV's Total Request Live, NPR's All Things Considered and From the Top, APM's Performance Today, the Cliburn Concert Series, the Gina Bachauer International Piano Festival, and dozens of summer chamber music festivals. Their orchestral engagements include performances with the Hartford, Santa Fe, and Lafayette Symphony Orchestras, and with members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. In recognition of their singular vision for the advancement of classical music, they have been invited to present at numerous international leader symposiums, including the EG (Entertainment Gathering), the Imagine Solutions Conference, Chicago Ideas Week, and Mexico’s Think Tank Festival for Brilliant Minds. Their scores are published by Alfred Music on the “Anderson & Roe Duos & Duets Series” and by Awkward Fermata Press.
Mr. Anderson and Ms. Roe left an indelible impression at The Juilliard School, where they both earned their bachelor's and master's degrees. A live performance by the Anderson & Roe Piano Duo is included on the Sounds of Juilliard CD celebrating the school's centennial year. In 2006, given only two months to compose and prepare, they gave the world premiere of their own composition “Star Wars Fantasy: Four Impressions for Two Pianos,” replacing John Williams on Juilliard's “Cinema Serenades” concert in Alice Tully Hall. Additionally, the two directed the groundbreaking project “Life Between the Keys,” an event that involved the entire Juilliard Piano Class of 2004; this performance project celebrated the class's unique camaraderie and chronicled its Juilliard experience in an all American program of piano music.
Anderson & Roe believe strongly in the communicative potential of music, and their performances, compositions, websites, videos, recordings, and writings all serve this mission, bringing joy to people around the world. As the Northwest Reverb recently stated, “[Anderson & Roe] swept the audience into a cheering mass of humanity, making a strong case that playing piano is the most fun thing that two people could ever do together.”
Greg Anderson & Elizabeth Joy Roe are Steinway Artists.
