OLGA KHARITONOVA & IGOR MACHLAK

Classical Piano Duo

The Igor and Olga Piano Duo, currently based in Australia, is one of today's finest ensembles.

Russian-born Igor Machlak and Olga Kharitonova graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory as solo pianists with first class honours. Multi-award winners, they represented the Conservatory performing recitals in Russia and abroad. Igor enhanced his reputation further by appearing at various festivals and with many reputable orchestras and Olga premiered new compositions, including performances at the prestigious Moscow Autumn festival in 1992-1993.

Olga and Igor met at the Conservatorium and it was Olga's teacher, Alexei Nasedkin, who suggested the young couple form a piano duo. Looking back Olga says: "We absolutely fell in love with two piano playing. It has doubled the pleasure, felt enormously rewarding and served as a constant stimulus for further work."

After two years of postgraduate studies at the Conservatory, the Kharitonova - Machlak team went on to establish a successful international career. The Duo was a prize-winner of many major competitions, including victories at: the Balakierev competition in 1990; the International Musica da Camera competition in Italy in 1991 and at the International Piano Duo competition in Tokyo, Japan in 1994. These successes led to numerous concert invitations in Europe and Asia. "Simply breathtaking!" - wrote the reviewer in Soviet Music about their recital in the Philharmonic Hall in Saint-Petersburg.

The young musicians also had the privilege to receive the advice and guidance from the Russia's 'Golden Duo'- Sorokina-Bahchiev. They also shared the concert platform with the legendary 'Bruk-Taimanov' Duo. The Kharitonova-Machlak team enjoyed many tours and performances in different parts of Russia, as well as recitals in Italy, Germany, Bulgaria and Japan.

Igor Machlak and Olga Kharitonova have performed with orchestras and in chamber music recitals with many of Australia's most distinguished performers, but the most cherished activity for them remains their performances together. "We have both been very lucky to have had the opportunity work with many wonderful artists, but I always feel that special chemistry when I am performing with Igor. There is a sense of completeness and absolute freedom." Olga said.

After more than two decades playing together, Olga and Igor have an enormous repertoire at their disposal. In the quest to make their performances a real Event, reviving the great romantic tradition, they continuously search to extend their repertoire which has resulted their own arrangements of masterpieces as well as numerous world premiers of the newest compositions. And the audiences and critics seem to love it. "It was world class!" noted the critic in The Age after their performance in Melbourne. "Their playing was brilliant, sensitive, almost sensuous. I was hooked!" exclaimed an enthusiastic admirer exclaimed in her letter to Music in Australia.

Among their other activities, Igor is an examiner for the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) and a visiting teacher at the Australian National Academy of Music. Olga frequently conducts Workshops and Masterclasses as well as adjudicates various competitions and Eisteddfods.

Contact Igor & Olga at igorolga@iprimus.com.au Recital enquiries welcome.

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