How did you begin to play the piano?

Music was in our family from the beginning. All our family lives with music. Each time we moved from a town to town, our first concern was moving of the pianos: how to protect them during the move? Where to put them? How will it sound after the move? And so on.

Our great-grandfather sang at the Teatro dell' Opera in Rome. Our beloved grandmother studied piano. She had to find a job when she was a child to continue studying the piano because money wasn’t enough during the Second World War. When she met our grandfather, the first thing they decided to do was to introduce their children to music. Our mother reminds us this every time when we listen to music. My mother studied the piano, graduated from a music academy and she has been teaching the piano for more than 30 years. After all this, it should speak for itself on how and why we learn to play the piano. Marzia received her first lessons when she was five during the “piano experimental” event at the Conservatory Juan Josè Landaeta in Caracas (Venezuela). Fabiana studied with Prof. Enza Iori since she was five years old in Modena (Italy). We have never stopped playing the piano since.

Where were you born and where do you live now?

After the Second World War, all our grandparents left their beloved Italy to search for a new life and a better future abroad. After the 60 days of long voyage by ship, they arrived in Caracas in Venezuela, a warm, welcoming country where they decided to live. Our parents met there in Caracas in the club “Italo-Venezolano”. They got to know each other, then married. We were both born in Caracas in March 20th (of course in different years). In 1986, we came back to Italy and since, we lived in Modena, the northern part of Italy. In 2007 and 2009, we had the opportunities to return to Caracas to perform Mozart’s concertos for 2 pianos and orchestra with the “Orquesta Sinfònica de Venezuela” directed by M° Angelo Inglese and with the “Orquesta Sinfònica de la Juventud Venezolana Simòn Bolivar” directed by M° Christian Vasquez. These were the most exciting moment in our lives, to be back and performing for the public we loved and the country where we grew up and learn to play the piano. We are forever in debt to all people who made this event possible.

How did your teacher influence you as a musician?

Our teachers never try to make us “clones” of them. They respect our characteristics, temperaments, and musical ideas. They don’t try to dominate us with their point of view, rather, they try to suggest how to improve from what we have, solve technical problems and most importantly, understanding the composer’s thought. We think their goal has always been to create who we are and individual musicians.

Who are your teachers?

We graduated from “Orazio Vecchi” Conservatoire in Modena under Prof. Enza Lori. We studied with her since we were children for more than 10 years. Our relationship has always been very strong trust and deep affection. Her teachings allowed us to have a good basis of piano playing (for example technical-explanatory level) and musical sensibility, and most of all, confidence about ourselves. From a more personal level, Prof. Lori, has always been very close to us, for encouragement and hope.

After graduating the Conservatoire, we were introduced to M° Piernarciso Masi. We knew him and decided to audition for “Incontri col Maestro” Academy in Imola (Italy), where he taught. And thanks to him, we formed a piano duo. Thanks to him, we expanded our technically skills, musicality, and artistically matured. Nowadays, we follow all his teachings and we never get tired of taking lesson with him. He is a great musician, and best of all, he understand how to communicate with his fellow musicians on making you understand his vision and more. He is generous at every level. He is a true Teacher (with a capital ‘T’), with an endless musical preparation and sometimes he seems to be a philosopher, a poet, and historian. Great teacher!!

We have always appreciated and loved another great pianist / teacher. We met Lylia Zilberstein in Verona (Italy). Lylia is a fantastic pianist and has many commonalities with M° Masi. That is, to make you understand their musical understanding and vision that complements their understanding. She is a professional pianist and a very dear and righteous person. It is an honour that we were to meet and have studied under such great people throughout our lives and they will stay in our heart for many years to come.

Do you teach?

Marzia: In my opinion, the life’s goal is to make people better than who they are now. Therefore, creating a constructive relationship with all your students is critical from the start. For example, I like to talk with students about what they like and dislike, possible desires they have, and their future, both short and long term. It’s important to know about the students as much as possible, especially in the field of performing arts. It’s important to teach the basis of instrument playing, of course. But more importantly, one must learn to transmit and be able to communicate their passion and love for the music to others. Through music, one must prepare the students to express their feelings appropriately and discover their inner soul and be able to communicate spontaneously thorough music. Music is a way to communicate with others. Probably music may be the best form of communication because expression can be drawn directly from the source of all emotions we know of. Sometimes when I attend a concert, emotionally I feel better because I can feel the tension going away and my brain breathing in sync with my body rhythm, therefore, brining a new positive energy rejuvenating in me. At the piano I obtain courage, freedom, sensibility, and at the end of practice ”How lucky I am to have all this”…. it’s my deep conviction that if every being plays a musical instrument, the world might be different: possibly less hate, violence, wars, death, to mention few. I hope that in the future, everyone will have an opportunity to learn about the music and be able to possess the strength to change one’s life and improve from what we seem to know today. This is the spirit I want to share with my students.

How do you prepare yourself on the day of performance?

Since we were young, our mother always helped us to be calm both physically and psychologically before the performance. After many years of performing in public, we learned to control to a degree on our own. Usually, the night before the concert, we sleep early so that we are fully relaxed. On the day of concert, we go through the most important passages that we are to perform. In the afternoon, we try the piano on the stage, go through the most problematic points again and visit the theatre/concert hall for acoustics. Just before the concert we dress … the appearance is very important! Then, we stay alone in the green room talking, laughing and warming the hands (Marzia’s hands are always cold). Before entering we always say ”let’s go and make music... with all our heart”.

How much or often do you practice basic (tone production, breathing, etc.)? If so, what kind of basic do you practice?

We usually try to practice every day… about 5-6 hours. As concert approaches, we study much more until we think its enough. It’s very important to study together to create the real feeling. We practice together from the first reading of a repertoire. So we can understand immediately about the structure of music. The most difficult aspects of the piano duo are the architectural synchronization, that is, uniformity of timbre and communication and synergy between the two parts. We usually record ourselves when we practice, so we can listen to ourselves and critique from the bird’s eye view.

How do you select repertoire for your concerts?

When we select the program for a concert we pay much attention to details of all possibilities. That is, when and where the concert is taking place, duration of program, concert theme from the sponsor, and public expectation. It’s important to take into consideration all these aspects to meet the sponsor and audience expectations. Usually we try to compile interesting but unique program. At this point we have somewhat idea on what audiences like and expects the most. Sometimes, the repertoire we select may come from the same historical period and sometimes, same geographical area. In certain occasions, we select repertoires on the basis of harmonic-tonal games or basis of a particular musical genre or specific title that reflects sponsor’s overall theme. We like to also introduce not-so-well known works because we think it’s important to extend the boundary of repertoire and we believe its worth taking the risk.

Your opinion, what is your strength in your playing?

The best compliment and the ones we receive the most is that we are “emotional” and “passionate”. We believe we transmit positive energy to the audience when we perform.

What do you hope to accomplish as a musician?

We hope with all our heart to be able to play and perform rest of our lives, continue to learn more, improve, and to reach the important goals. For us to be musicians mean to play together, to share emotionally, and grow artistically. One of our biggest dream is to perform in different parts of the world: USA, South America, Australia, Far East, and of course Europe. We know our goal is ambitious, but we will try to attain it.

Do you like any other forms of art? such as painting? a favorite writer? Tell us about it.

We love all types of art: Painting, literature, and sculpture have been very important part of our life. We completed classical studies where we studied a lot of literature, poetry, art history, and Greek and Latin language. Since we were children we visited many cities of art especially in Italy. To tell the truth, we love classical ballet and we know all the ballets of the classical tradition. We know how hard it is and what it takes to become a classical dancer. It’s the same thing for us musicians! Dancers interpret music with their body.

What do you like to read? What are some of your recent reading?

We like reading a lot. It’s Marzia’s second passion. Reading should be mandatory for all artists. Through reading, one learns to create mental models and allow your imagination to liftoff … to be able to hear your emotions, identify yourself with the life of protagonist. One of our beloved writer is Nicholas Sparks, brilliant stories with depth that reflects reality. His characters are unique and simple, never banal, and it becomes part of you. Reading his books is like talking to your best friend. We have all his books. One day, we would like to meet him and to thank him for the beautiful moments of life he is able to communicate to the readers. We like also Marc Levy, the author of “If only it were true”. We have all his books too. And Marzia likes Agatha Christies’ books too, especially the ones with the detective Hercule Poirot. To tell the truth, we read this kind of books only in summer, when we go to the seaside.

In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a good performer?

It’s taken for granted to say that a good musician must be methodical, precise, and competent. To be a musician doesn’t mean to retain a job that pays the bill but to follow one’s passion. A lot of friends have discontinued music to follow other means of life to make the ends meet. However, many of them regret later on the decision they had made earlier and often feel emptiness in their life. For some, they don’t forgive themselves for giving up their passion. Musician’s life is not easy and no one said it was easy path. It’s a long journey that requires many mountains to climb and many rivers to cross. For both physically and emotionally, its exhausting path. But the joy of realizing that you are following your passion is priceless. This is the point, for us to be true musicians mean to be a human being who is able to give unconditional love to all. To be a good musician means to be conscious of all these and to be forgiving.

What period of music do you enjoy playing the most and why?

Fortunately our musical tastes nearly always coincide. We love all composers of Romantic and late Romantic period such as Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Scriabin, and each time we study their compositions, we are awed by their genius. The way they are able to express all potentiality is simply divine. The pieces we enjoy most to play are surely the ones of the 20th century: Hindemith, Reger, Stravinsky, Busoni, Poulenc, Ravel. We always feel at ease when we play them, so, it is easy for us to expand their repertoire while trying the new ideas.

What was the music that changed your life?

Piano duo. When we were solo instrumentalists, we were alone at all times. Practicing and performing piano duo allowed us to listen and research the music in a different perspective. We now understand the meaning of understanding the thoughts of the others (i.e. performers). Some years ago, Latin-American music entered our life and deeply shaped our understanding of music. We continually search for the new and exciting composers. Latin-American music is a full of colours, elegance, lyricism, love for motherland and above all, rhythm. It takes one through series of eternal dances. We try to introduce Latin-American works in our program when ever possible. When we do, the response from public is overwhelming. For us, this is a pure joy.

We also love to perform two pianos and orchestra. To play them is always a great artistic and human experience. To perform on the stage with the members of the orchestra is indescribable. For us pianists, to play with an orchestra is very exciting since a pianist often a lone performer.

Do you have any upcoming concerts?

In the next few months, we are scheduled to perform in various Italian cities (Bologna and Milan) where we will give series of recitals for piano four hands. We love performing for the public. When we make music, we feel a full of positive energy spurring and in certain sense, we feel it completes our existence. Only a musician can understand and feel this magic that rises within…. a touch of a key that triggers the moment of harmonious emotion that touches the heart and soul.

How did you learn about the International Web Concert Hall Competition?

We were searching for the piano competitions on the web and we found WCH web site. We were intrigued by the uniqueness of the competition: its structure, its organization, the process of the competition, and we found it very interesting. So we decided to participate …and the result was fantastic. Thank you very much WCH!

What do you hope to achieve as a musician and as a duo?

We hope with all our heart to be able to play and perform all our lives. Continue to study more, improve and reach the important goals of our dream. For us, to be musicians mean to play together, to share psychological and artistry and of course, a sisterly tie now and the future. One of our greatest dreams is to perform in different countries around the world: USA, South America, Australia, Far East and of course our Europe. We know our goal is ambitious, but we will try to attain it. With a lot of study and a bit of luck, we believe our dreams can come alive.

On be half of the Web Concert Hall, we would like to thank you for your time and we wish all the success.