Being a pianist can get a little odd. You are either perceived as a soloist or as an accompanist. There is, however, a wealth of chamber music that is not often heard locally, from piano quartets to works for two or more pianos. The upcoming recital by the Grima-Gialanzé duo at the Manoel Theatre on Wednesday is thus an opportunity not to be missed.

This piano duo, made up of Gisèle Grima and Erika Gialanzé, was formed in 2013, and has since then already given several recitals. Their performances are polished and beautifully nuanced. What makes the Grima-Gialanzé duo so special is that there isn’t simply a musical bond, but a deep friendship which permeates their performances. In the intimate and delicate world of chamber music this is a crucial element, and it is even more so when you have two performers at one instrument.

The Manoel Theatre recital offers new challenges for the duo as they will explore not only piano four-hand music, but also music for two pianos. These different set ups present different challenges to the two pianists. “Having two pianists at one piano means having restricted space and clashing of hands,” says Erika. “Whereas, using two pianos means you have all the piano for yourself!”

The evening promises to be an exciting one, with a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar works. In many ways the programme represents the duo’s artistic journey so far, starting with Schubert’s magnificent Fantasie in F minor D. 940. “When Erika and I began collaborating back in 2013, the Fantasie was our first ‘musical test’ to get to know one another,” says Gisele. “Since then, it has grown in leaps and bounds, in the same way that we have grown as a duo.”

What makes the Grima-Gialanzé duo so special is that there isn’t simply a musical bond, but a deep friendship which permeates their performances

Also on the programme is a rarely heard piece by Samuel Barber called Souvenirs: Ballet Suite Op. 28, a piece very dear to Erika. Written in 1953, this piece comes from a very productive period in Barber’s career, fuelled by the post-war boom in America. The audience will also probably be familiar to De Falla’s Two Spanish Dances from La Vida Breve and Ravel’s Bolero, both of which are being heard as transcriptions, the latter for two pianos.

The duo is also no stranger to new local music and a good chunk of the programme is dedicated to Maltese works. Top of the list is Camilleri’s Paganiana, a set of variations on Paganini’s Capriccio No. 24. Vella Gregory’s Irkejjen, a set of four vignettes inspired by different areas of Valletta, is also on the programme. The work was commissioned by the duo in 2015.

The Grima-Gialanzé duo has a commendable history of new commissions, and this concert will also see the premiere of Veronique Vella’s work Two Pianos commissioned by them. “For her, writing a work for two pianos was a new venture and for us it has also been a very exciting introduction to a mesmerising musical style that is fresh, distinctive and innovative in many ways. While her style explores the piano as a percussive instrument, the music is never short of melodic and beautifully coloured harmonic inflections that carry an unusually powerful, sometimes hypnotic, effect.”

The Grima-Gialanzé duo forms part of a very rare breed, that of chamber musicians not afraid to explore new territory and new sounds. In a cultural scenario where good chamber music is very hard to come by, such a recital is not to be missed.

The Gisèle Grima and Erika Gialanzé Piano Duo Recital takes place on Wednesday at 8pm at the Manoel Theatre,Valletta. Tickets are available online.

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