In the rarefied world of duo piano music, the team of Luis Magalhães and Nina Schumann has established itself, for both audiences and critics, as one of the most outstanding.
Their exemplary performances have been praised throughout North America, Europe and Africa. Indeed, in Portugal, the Jornal de Noticias, referred to the duo as "grand….they rival the mythical Labeque sisters.," while in South Africa, Die Burger described their performance as "impressive for its expressive feeling and insight".
Since its formation in 1999, the Magalhães & Schumann Piano Duo has performed the world over. They met at the University of North Texas, where both were students of Vladimir Viardo, the distinguished Russian pianist. In an act that might best be described as providential, less than a year later Mr Magalhães and Ms Schumann married.
While each continues to pursue an active solo career, they are internationally regarded not only for their comprehensive virtuosity, exemplary ensemble and passionate musicality, but for the unusual repertoire they have cultivated. Among their programs are several, which sport a thematic thread. Among these are the complete Beetheoven Symphonies for four hands; the complete two piano music of Rachmaninoff; and several programs that include music for two pianos and percussion.
In January 2006, Magalhães & Schumann recorded for Universal Music the complete works for two pianos by Sergei Rachmaninoff. The recording took place in the Endler Hall of Stellenbosch University, South Africa. The sound engineer was Wolf-Dieter Karwatky.
