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Maria Laura Fagilde and Ricardo Roel Piano Duo The extraordinary pianists Maria Laura Fagilde and Ricardo Roel are known not only for the seamless ensemble of their playing, but also for their superlative musicianship and extraordinary scope of repertoire which ranges from Mozart and Brahms to Stravinsky, Ravel, Piazzolla and the avant-garde composers of the 20th century.

In the course of training for their solo careers, the husband and wife team from Argentina discovered almost by chance that their artistic capabilities complement each other extraordinarily well when they play together as a duo. Since the formation of the duo in 1993, they have devoted themselves to transferring the individuality and spontaneity of a solo performance to the piano duo.

Maria Laura and Ricardo have given numerous concerts in the United Sates, Central America, South America and Europe, which have been received with great enthusiasm by audiences as well as critics. They have also appeared in countless radio and television broadcasts around the United States and Argentina including public broadcasters such as the Art Show Case TV program at Indiana University, WTIU-TV Indiana University; WTBU-TV Butler University; WWNO 89.9 New Orleans' radio station; radio Caracol, Miami; Municipal, National, and Clasica radio stations of Buenos Aires as well as Bravo and Channel "a" TV stations of Argentina, among others.

They have performed at prestigious venues such as the Teatro Colon, Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires, Teatro El Circulo of Rosario, Astor Piazzolla’s Hall in Mar del Plata, Argentina; Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Dade County Auditorium in Miami; Concert Hall in Chicago; Gusman Concert Hall in Miami; Washington Library in Chicago; Clowes Memorial Hall and Emens Auditorium in Indiana; and The Teatro Nacional of Panama among others.

Highly acclaimed by both the public and the critics alike, the duo has performed at renowned international festivals and concert series including Festival Miami; Summerfest of the Symphony of the Americas; VII Festival Internacional de Musica de Buenos Aires at the Teatro Colon; Trento Music Festival in Italy; Symphony of the Americas Concert Series; Clowes Memorial Concert Hall Concert Series; The IMF Visitor Center Concert Series, Washington D.C.; National and Municipal Radio Live Concert Series, Buenos Aires; and Harold Washington Library Concert Series, Chicago, to name a few.

The Fagilde-Roel duo has collaborated with several orchestras including the Municipal Symphony Band Orchestra of Buenos Aires, Ball State Symphony, Butler Symphony orchestra, Czech Moravian Virtuosi chamber orchestra from Prague, Symphony of the Americas from the United States, Mendelssohn chamber orchestra from Budapest, I Musici Estensi orchestra, and the Arpeggione chamber orchestra from Austria and has played under such distinguished conductors as Leonard Atherton, Carlos Calleja, Maria Ana Barcelo, Joseph Scagnoli, Peter Kovats, Milan Kraus, Stanley DeRusha, and James Brooks-Bruzzese, among others.

During 2003, 2004 and 2005, Maria Laura and Ricardo toured Europe, Central America, South-America and the United States, performing, lecturing and presenting master classes. They collaborated with such prestigious orchestras such as Symphony of the Americas, Butler Symphony Orchestra, Mendelsshon chamber orchestra from Budapest, Czech Moravian chamber of Prague, and Arpeggione chamber of Austria under the direction of James Brooks-Bruzzese, Artistic Director of the Symphony of the Americas. During these years Fagilde-Roel duo performed the world premiere of Concerto for piano duo and orchestra, and Concierto for piano four hands, violin and string orchestra by Enrique Roel, as well as the world premiere of series of tangos for piano four-hands: Contrabajenado, Nonino, Undertango, Lo que Vendra, Bando, and Libertango by Astor Piazzolla; and A Fuego Lento by Horacio Salgan, a very known tango composer from Argentina. In addition, Mr. Roel performed piano solo recitals and gave lectures on A Tribute to Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989) and Great Pianists of the XX Century.

During the Symphony of the Americas Summerfest 2006 season, Fagilde-Roel Piano Duo performed extensively in Italy, Argentina, Panama and the United States with the I Musici Estensi chamber orchestra from Milan, Italy under the direction of James Brooks-Bruzzese. During the tour of 25 concerts in six weeks, the duo performed their own arrangements of Mozart’s Turkish March Sonata and the world premiere of Piazzolla’s Resurrecion del Angel, Muerte del Angel, Verano Porteño, and Libertango for piano four hands and string orchestra among other Piazzolla’s works for piano four hands.

Maria Laura and Ricardo, a Steinway Artist, graduated from the Municipal Conservatory of Music Manuel de Falla. In 1986, they both moved to the United States to study at Ball State University, Indiana, earning the degrees of Master of Music and Master of Arts. They both also hold a Doctorate of Musical Arts from University of Miami.

Austrian-based orchestra plays with Argentine flair…. Duo pianist Maria Laura Fagilde and Ricardo Roel excelled in three Piazzolla’s tangos-as well as the encore, Libertango – and two movements from Ginastera’s famous ballet Estancia. It’s hard to describe the surprisingly rich swells of sound that emanated from the piano-four-hand players. Equally delightful were Roel’s sophisticated arrangements, so beautifully marched to the string orchestra-duo-piano combination. PalmBeachPost.com

Sharon McDaniel Duo-Pianists Maria Laura Fagilde and Ricardo Roel joined the orchestra for three Piazzolla tangos in arrangements by Roel. This brilliantly gifted duo fully encompassed the Bach inspired, neo-Baroque ethos of Resureccion del Angel. Their galloping fireworks in Michelangelo 70 were exciting. Fagilde and Roel bring artistic clarity, musicality, and personality to everything they play.

Lawrence Budmen The Return of Summerfest The duo concluded the evening with Roel’s transcription of the famous Malambo…it was a sheer pianistic tour de force (and great entertainment) in this dynamic duo’s inspired reinvention with their sizzling technique and musical charisma. Fagilde and Roel brought an outstanding musicale to a festive conclusion. Lawrence Budmen

A romp through Gullah culture at Summerfest To kick off the 2007 Summerfest's South Florida tour over the weekend, maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese and the Austrian Arpeggione Chamber Orchestra ventured through a colorful aural landscape of predominately Spanish and Argentine music at the Broward Center's Amaturo Theatre in Fort Lauderdale. Three of Piazzolla's tangos, arranged by Ricardo Roel, featured Roel and wife Maria Laura Fagilde as duo pianists with the orchestra in a variety of mood settings that successfully mix the tango's raw emotionalism with the more reserved formality of chamber music. Sun Sentinel Jack Zink

Previous reviwes

Outstanding piano players. . . The two pianists are highly professional skilled musicians, excelling in the difficult art of four- handed music rendering. . . Both displaying a wonderful technique in solo performances.

Buenos Aires Herald

[“La Valse”] was the final number of this remarkable four-hand piano recital by this stunning couple, Maria Laura Fagilde and Ricardo Roel, who brought the full-house audience to their feet with loud applause and bravos.

Coral Gables Gazette

Robust digital mechanism. . . precise and powerful technique gave brilliance to their work.

La Prensa

Extraordinary piano concert with Argentine pianists Maria Laura Fagilde and Ricardo Roel. . . . . wonderful piano duo.

Palm Beach Latino

Another outstanding musical performance by the duo. . . in one of the most remarkable edifices [of Coral Gables], a church which has already been declared a national landmark.

Coral Gables Gazette

Il concerto e' stato un successo con standing ovation e ottime critiche.

La Settimana, Milano

Hanno ben impressionato I coniugi Roel nella loro performance a Quattro mani Dimostrando, oltre a qualita tecniche, una straordinaria e naturale musicalita sui brani di Piazzolla, autore Argentino come loro e interpretato piu che mai con il giusto stile.

La Settimana, Milano

Maria Laura Fagilde and Ricardo Roel have quickly risen to national and international prominence. They have been heralded by critics and fellow musicians as one of the most outstanding piano duos of their generation.

Redaccion Magazine, Buenos Aires

“A Remarkable performance, well balanced and outstanding quality….which resulted in three standing ovations.” Coral Gables Gazette

“They bring such a tremendous energy to the stage,” Renee LaBonte, fellow pianist and Symphony of the Americas’ executive director, said of the Argentine couple. “If you’re in the audience, you can’t help but get wrapped up in it.”

Palm Beach Post, Delray Beach