Katona Twins: one of the greatest duos in the world of guitar at the Convent of Cós on July 17

Geniuses and twins: the Katona Twins arrive at Cistermúsica 2011 for a unique concert where they will interpret works of Mozart, Bach, Bizet and De Falla, also conducting a Guitar Masterclass

Known as one of the best guitar duos on the planet: the Katona Twins reach the Cistermúsica 2011 on July 17, Sunday, at 6h00p.m, for a single concert to be held in the Convent of Santa Maria de Cós, where they will interpret some of most famous works of Mozart, Bach, Bizet, Granados, Albéniz and De Falla, with arrangements of his own. The presence of the brothers at the Festival, will also be marked, one day before, July 16 at 10.00a.m., by a Guitar Masterclass at the Monastery of Alcobaça, integrated in the section Formation, which constitutes a unique opportunity for the country music students to take contact with the performers.

The Katona Twins, Peter and Zoltán Katona, critically acclaimed by the Daily Telegraph as “ the classical world’s best known guitar duo” give recitals in the major concert venues throughout the world including performances at the Carnegie Hall, the Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Konzerthaus in Vienna, the Suntory Hall in Tokyo; Philharmonie in Cologne. In 2009, as the soloists of the “Night of the Proms” they performed live to half a million people in arenas across Europe. The twins have won over ten international prizes at major competitions in New York, London, Germany, France and Hungary and they are currently artists in residence in San Francisco.

The wide repertoire of the duo spans from Bach, Piazzolla’s tango music to their own arrangements of pop classics. Their programmes also include concertos for two guitars and orchestra by Rodrigo, Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Tedesco. Several contemporary composers have written for and dedicated works to the Katona Twins. The duo studied in Budapest, Frankfurt and in London. The Katona Twins have been invited on numerous occasions to record for the BBC and other international television and radio stations. Their CD releases include music by Scarlatti and Handel; Rodrigo; Albéniz, Piazzolla and Manuel de Falla. Peter and Zoltan Katona were born in Hungary, they are German citizens and live in Liverpool in the UK.