KATONA TWINS - ‘Alhambra Inspirations’ (A Spanish Programme for Two Guitars)

The Alhambra Palace was built in the early Middle Ages, in the city of Granada, following the Arab conquest of Spain. With its impressive mosaics and sun-drenched gardens, it inspired the creation of many wonderful compositions throughout the centuries. The programme includes works be D. Scarlatti, L. Boccherini, I.Albeniz. F. Tarrega and M de Falla.

Programme

Luigi Boccherini (arr. Katona)
Introduction and Fandango (1743–1805)

Isaac Albeniz (arr. Katona) 
Mallorca
Asturias

Peter Katona - Tarrega for Two
Gran Vals
Alhambra Inspiration
Capricho Arabe

INTERVAL

Peter Katona: Scarlatti’s Transformation
I. Allegro
II. Aria
III. Scarlatti’s Metamorphosis

Enrique Granados (Arr. Katona)
Oriental (Spanish Dance No.2) (1867 –1916)

Manuel de Falla (arr. Katona): El amor brujo (excepts) (1867-1946)            
Introduccion
Danza del Terror
El Circulo Magico
Pantomima
Danza Ritual del Fuego

KATONA TWINS (Peter and Zoltan Katona)

Peter and Zoltán Katona have given recitals in major concert venues throughout the world including performances at Carnegie Hall in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, The Konzerthaus in Vienna, Suntory Hall in Tokyo and The Philharmonie in Cologne in Germany. They effortlessly transfer from strictly classical, into more popular musical genres. In 2009, as the soloists of the ‘Night of the Proms’, they performed live to half a million people in arenas across Europe. They played together with renowned musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma and world class ensembles such as the BBC Concert Orchestra and the London Sinfonietta.

The twins have won over ten international prizes at major competitions in New York (Concert Artists Guild), London (YCAT, Park Lane Group), Germany, France and Hungary. Their 11 CD releases include solo, duo, chamber music and concertos written by Scarlatti Handel; Bach; Mozart; Vivaldi, Rodrigo; Albéniz, Piazzolla, Manuel de Falla and own compositions. The Katona Twins’ Rodrigo Album became Editor’s choice of the Gamophone Magazine and their M.de Falla recording CD of the week on KDFC (San Francisco USA). Their crossover album "Guitar Freaks" was CD of the week on Netherland’s Classic FM Radio Station and on Germany's Radio station HR2. Their eleventh CD recording with the title ‘Alhambra Inspirations’ was released in the summer 2024.

Their arrangements and recordings featured in the US blockbuster TV series ‘Fargo’ and in the Broadway show ‘The River’ featuring Hollywood star Hugh Jackman. They have been invited on numerous occasions to record and perform for international television and radio stations such as the BBC (UK), EÉN (Belgium), KDFC (USA), SWR (Germany), VPRO (Netherlands), RTÉ (Ireland) and M1TV (Hungary).

The twins were born in Hungary and went on to study in Germany and in London at the Royal Academy of Music. They now live in Liverpool, in the U.K. Peter teaches at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.

www.katonatwins.com