Biography

Hans-Peter and Volker Stenzl have long set a benchmark for musical intelligence and piano duo playing at the highest level. Critics marvel at the "freedom of a soloist with four hands" as well as at their nuanced illumination of the complex scores, pushing down to the subtlest ramifications.
Studies in Stuttgart (with Renate Werner) and Frankfurt (with Herbert Seidel) were followed by a two-year postgraduate course with Frank Wibaut, Hamish Milne and Stephen Kovacevich at the Royal Academy of Music London (concert diplomas solo and duo with distinction) and private lessons with Alfred Brendel. Further valuable artistic inspiration came from Bruno Canino and Norbert Brainin.

Winners of 11 international competitions (e.g. ARD/ Munich 1986, Dranoff/ Miami 1989), their extensive career has taken them to almost all European countries, to North and South America, West Africa, Japan, China and Hong Kong. In 1991 they made their debut at the Salzburg Festival. They have appeared in major concert halls throughout the world since:
Royal Festival Hall London, Wigmore Hall London, Merkin Concert Hall New York, Nichols Concert Hall Chicago, Lincoln Theatre Miami, Suntory Hall Tokyo, Cultural Centre Hong Kong, Philharmonic Hall Guangzhou, Philharmonie Berlin, Konzerthaus Berlin, Frauenkirche Dresden, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Philharmonie Köln, Herkulessaal München, Gasteig München, Liederhalle Stuttgart, Salle Gaveau Paris, Stefaniensaal Graz, Centro culturale San Michele Rom, Philharmonic Hall Bratislava, Ateneul Bucharest, Kolarac Belgrade, Philharmonic Hall Belgrade, Manoel Theatre Malta, International House of Music Moscow, Philharmonic Hall St. Petersburg, Philharmonic Hall Nishnij Novgorod, Organ Hall Arhangelsk, Philharmonic Hall Ufa, Opera House Kairo, Opera House Alexandria, Teatro Teresa Careno Caracas and many more.
In 2019 the Stenzl Piano Duo made three highly successful debut recitals in China: in June at the 3rd International Piano Festival in Beijing, in September at the Oriental Art Centre in Shanghai, and in December at the Lang Lang Concert Hall in Guangzhou.

Hans-Peter and Volker played as soloists under the batons of Helmuth Rilling, Karl Anton Rickenbacher, Konrad Latte, Gerd Albrecht, Neal Stulberg, Wojciech Rajski, Max Pommer, Yordan Kamdzhalov, Wolf-Dieter Hauschild, Christfried Göckeritz, Werner Stiefel, Wolfgang Schäfer, Hans Michael Beurle, Michael Reif, Hartmut Haenchen, Daniel Raiskin, Wayne Marshall, Martin Fischer-Dieskau, Thomas Hengelbrock, Dirk Joeres, Hans-Christoph Rademann, Michel Tabachnik, Gustavo Dudamel and others.

More than 15 highly coveted CDs as well as radio and television productions testify to the enormous stylistic range of the Stenzls on one and on two pianos.
On the musical-literary scene they have collaborated with Karl Michael Vogler, Hans Clarin, Loriot, Anne Bennent, Nina Petri, Gisela Schneeberger, Annegret Müller, Bernt Hahn, Roger Willemsen, Ulrich Wildgruber, Stefan Fleming, Hanns Zischler and others.

Hans-Peter and Volker are deeply devoted and highly sought-after pedagogues. Their aim is to guide young solo pianists and piano duos on their way to independent and individual characters. The Stenzls are the holders of the first international chair of piano duo studies at the hmt Rostock/Germany. In addition, they teach solo and duo at the Music Universities of Stuttgart (Hans-Peter) and Trossingen (Volker). A number of international prize-winners have been their students (e.g. ARD competition 2015, 1st prize, audience prize and special prize Shalamov duo, 2nd prize ShinPark duo), some of which have already become dedicated university teachers themselves.

The Stenzls give masterclasses in many countries and serve on the juries of renowned national and international music competitions. In 1996 Hans-Peter and Volker were appointed „Associates of the Royal Academy of Music London“. Besides, since 1992 they have been members of the honorary committee of the International Piano Competition J.S. Bach - Würzburg and, since 1999, honorary members of the "International Piano Duo Association of Japan".

Short biography

For over 30 years now, Hans-Peter and Volker Stenzl have been setting a benchmark for pianistic brilliance, musical intelligence and sensitivity as well as nuanced illumination of complex four-hand and two-piano scores.
Studies in Stuttgart, Frankfurt and London and eleven competition prizes (1986 ARD, 1989 Dranoff) were followed by an extensive international career and collaboration with world-famous conductors, such as Gustavo Dudamel and Helmuth Rilling.
The Stenzls are also deeply devoted and highly sought-after pedagogues. They are the holders of the first international chair of piano duo studies (at the hmt Rostock/Germany) and, in addition, teach in Stuttgart (Hans-Peter) and Trossingen (Volker). In 1996 they were appointed Associates of the Royal Academy of Music London.
A great number of international prize-winners testify to their inspiring teaching.

News

Beijing debut at the 3rd International Piano Festival

On the evening of June 6th, the Opera and Concert Hall of the Central Conservatory of Music was crowded and bustling with excitement. The Stenzl Piano Duo Concert was successfully staged here. The Stenzl brothers are world-renowned German duo pianists, they are winners of 11 top international competitions: including the ARD competition in Germany; the Dranoff international competition in the United States etc. Their cooperation and performance are very delicate, acute, and full of spirituality, and it was called by the media "A spiritual soloist with four hands." Tonight, they had performed two masterworks of piano four hands and two pianos.
On the first half of the concert, they performed the Sonata in C major for piano four-hands, D 812 by Franz Schubert, also known as Grand Duo, is one of Schubert's most important works for two pianists. It consists with four movements, the first movement of this work reflects the tonal layout of the “three-key exposition,” this was a representative tonal layout which showed in Schubert’s compositions after 1820s. In the first movement, the tonal structure of the exposition is "I (1st theme) - ♭ VI (2nd theme ) - V (3rd theme) - V (closure)". The second movement is Andante in A-flat major, which sounded elegant and exquisite, the simplicity in this movement gave me a sense of “still water runs deep.” The third movement is Scherzo and Trio, and the finale is a lively allegro. The musical dialogue between the primo and secondo showed an extremely high quality of cooperation and profound musical understanding by the Stenzl brothers. All the musical emotions and characters were presented precisely, and flowed naturally through out the entire work. At the same time, it also gave various changes in harmonic layers and timbre. It was incredible to believe that such perfect piano performance was actually accomplished by two individual pianists.
The Stenzl brothers performed the Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 by Johannes Brahms for the second half of the concert. This work was composed in 1885 which contains four movements. The whole work demonstrates the senses of loneliness, profound, strength, pessimistic melancholy, and it evokes the sadness of the sunset along with autumn wind. Brahms was influenced by the famous Greek tragedy "Oedipus the King" when he composed this work, the grief and terror were the key emotion which penetrated into every fiber of the work. In the beginning we could felt the tendency of romanticism, then it came to a brave and unrestrained Scherzo, the last movement brought us back to the Baroque period. The Stenzl brothers completely reproduced the brilliant effect of a full orchestra, their playing expressed both grandness and gracefulness, the tempo was very steady while maintaining the enthusiasm at the same time. They also had a great imitation on the sounds of individual instrument, and they both were highly sensitive to the layers of sound, I could literally hear a performance of various instruments. Undoubtedly Their seamless performance could be completely comparable to an orchestra concert.
In the end, along with hearty rounds of applause and exciting atmosphere in the audience, the Stenzl brothers performed two encores: Debussy's four-handed work "En Beteau" and Polenc's double piano work "L'embarquement pour Cythère valse -musette.” They wisely picked these two short French pieces were in stark contrast to the two previous grand masterworks, and the concert ended in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.Most notably, they played the entire concert program from memory, which I founded as a great challenge for both four-handed and double-piano performances. Playing from memory definitely increased the level of difficulty, because normally in ensemble work, if any one of them have some sort of slip up, it is likely to cause serious consequences for both performers. Along with this challenge, the Stenzl brothers lived up to expectations and presented a very high-profiled piano duo performance, which greatly bettered the level of this concert. They both had left a deep impression on their wonderful performance to the audience. Let us continue to look forward to the rest following exciting activities in the festival!
A piece that isparticularly dear to any piano duo is Franz Schubert´s Fantasy in f minor. We have conceived a lecture recital called "psychograph of a human soul". Schubert wrote this most touching and best-known work for four hands six months before he died. It represents the course of a human life, from its birth to the final death cry, including a glimpse into an afterworld. Where does this music come from? How does Schubert develop the sad and longing opening theme? How does he put the passing of time into music?

We want to illuminate these questions before playing the entire piece.

Duration: approx. 1 hour, no interval
WDR 3: Together with Antonia Ronnewinkel we explore Max Regers` Beethoven variations op.86
http://www1.wdr.de/radio/wdr3/musik/wdr3-werkbetrachtungen/index.html

Concerts 2024

21 March 7:30 pm	Heilbronn
4 April 8:30 pm	Triest (IT)
4 June 9 and 11am	Stuttgart, mit den Stuttgarter Philharmonikern
5 June 9 and 11am	Stuttgart, mit den Stuttgarter Philharmonikern
6 June 9 and 11am 6pm	Stuttgart, mit den Stuttgarter Philharmonikern
3 August 7pm	Bonn
26 August 9:15pm	Finale Ligure (IT)
28 August 9:15pm	Finale Ligure (IT)
2 September 7pm	Donzdorf
9 September 7pm	Kloster Ochsenhausen
27 September	Neusalza-Spremberg
16 November	Blaibach
17 November	Blaibach
26 December 5pm	Vitznau (CH)
27 December 7pm	Vitznau (CH)

Diskography

Britten, Ravel, Strawinsky, Lutoslawski

"They set to work with considerable feeling for virtuosity and precise outlines and should be considered serious contenders for a place among the current top duos."
(Der Musikmarkt 12/1990)

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

1.	Introduction and Rondo alla Burlesca op.23/1	9:00
2.	Mazurka Elegiaca op. 23/2	7:30

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

La Valse

11:45

Igor Strawinsky (1882-1971)

4.-7.

Concerto per due pianoforte soli

21:50

Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994)

Variationen über ein Thema von Paganini

5:22

FREIBURGER MUSIK FORUM GmbH
AM 1088-2

Schubert

"The Stenzl Duo’s lovingly shaped phrasing and powerfully built climaxes in the fugue leave the deepest impression."
(BBC Music Magazine, 10/1996)

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Sonate für Klavier zu vier Händen C-Dur, D 812, op. posth. 140
“Grand Duo”

1.	Allegro moderato	11:17
2.	Andante	9:33
3.	Scherzo. Allegro vivace	5:24
4.	Allegro vivace	9:27

Fantasie für Klavier zu vier Händen f-moll, D 940 (op.103)

Allegro molto moderato -Largo-
Allegro vivace –Con delicatezza

18:10

Membran
ARS MUSICI 232163

Brahms, Vierhändige Klaviermusik

Live-Aufnahme

"A duo-piano version of a great orchestral serenade proves a revelation, unexpectedly brilliant and lucid."
(The New York Times, 07/1996)

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Serenade op.11, D-Dur

1.	Allegro molto	9:14
2.	Scherzo (Allegro non troppo) Trio (poco più animato)	6:25
3.	Adagio non troppo	11:37
4.	Menuetto I & II	3:47
5.	Scherzo (Allegro) Trio	2:31
6.	Rondo (Allegro)	6:05
7.-17.	Variationen über ein Thema von Robert Schumann, op.23, Es-Dur	18:31

Ungarische Tänze 1-6

18.	Allegro molto g-moll	2:59
19.	Allegro non assai d-moll	3:00
20.	Allegretto F-Dur	2:28
21.	Poco sostenuto f-moll	4:04
22.	Allegro fis-moll	2:01
23.	Vivace Des-Dur	3:39

Johannes Brahms

24.

Walzer op.39 Nr.15, A-Dur

1:48

FREIBURGER MUSIK FORUM GmbH
AM 1130-2

Brahms, Symphonie Nr. 4

"Brahms’ Fourth twice in the same guise yet fundamentally different in the sound of the pianos. This is not something that can be heard every day, nor as superbly played. Congratulations!"
(Fono Forum 03/1999)

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Symphonie Nr.4, e-moll, op.98 in der Bearbeitung für 2 Klaviere

Auf 2 Fazioli-Flügeln (Kunsthaus Mürzzuschlag)

1.	Allegro non assai	11:15
2.	Andante moderato	9:55
3.	Presto giocoso	6:06
4.	Allegro energico e passionato	9:12

Auf 2 historischen Instrumenten von Bachmann bzw. Streicher
(Brahms-Museum Mürzzuschlag)

5.	Allegro non assai	11:39
6.	Andante moderato	10:10
7.	Presto giocoso	6:17
8.	Allegro energico e passionato	9:32

FREIBURGER MUSIK FORUM GmbH
AM 1232-2

Brahms, Liszt, Reger

"Seldom has a duo achieved such mature harmony. The Stenzls produce conscientiousness, precision and dynamic nuances quite naturally."
(Piano News 09/1999)

Brahms · Liszt · Reger

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Variationen über ein Thema von Haydn
für zwei Klaviere B-Dur op.56b „Haydn-Variationen“

1.	Thema: Chorale St. Antoni. Andante	2:22
2.	Var.1 Andante con moto	1:20
3.	Var.2 Vivace	0:57
4.	Var.3 Con moto	1:43
5.	Var.4 Andante	2:07
6.	Var.5 Poco presto	0:58
7.	Var.6 Vivace	1:17
8.	Var.7 Grazioso	2:48
9.	Var.8 Poco presto	0:55
10.	Finale. Andante	4:10

Max Reger (1873-1916)
Variationen und Fuge über ein Thema von Beethoven für zwei Klaviere op.86

11.	Thema. Andante	1:27
12.	Var.1 Un poco più lento	1:40
13.	Var.2 Agitato	1:18
14.	Var.3 Andantino grazioso	1:42
15.	Var.4 Andante sostenuto	2:01
16.	Var.5 Appassionato	1:12
17.	Var.6 Andante sostenuto	2:28
18.	Var.7 Vivace	0:50
19.	Var.8 Sostenuto	2:04
20.	Var.9 Vivace	1:04
21.	Var.10 Poco vivace	1:31
22.	Var.11 Andante con grazia	1:34
23.	Var.12 Allegro pomposo	2:10
24.	Fuge. Allegro con spirito	4:59

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

25.

Réminiscences de Don Juan de Mozart für zwei Klaviere (Raabe 379)

16:06

Membran
ARS MUSICI 232278

Brahms - Liebesliederwalzer, Walzer, Neue Liebesliederwalzer

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

1.-3.	Liebeslieder op. 52 - Walzer für vier Singstimmen und Klavier zu vier Händen	22:42
4.-7.	16 Walzer op. 39 - für Klavier zu vier Händen	17:57
8.-10.	Neue Liebeslieder op. 65 - Walzer für vier Singstimmen und Klavier zu vier Händen	18:53

Gershwin, Ravel, Poulenc

"With this CD the Stenzl brothers prove once again that they are top-class. The two pianists succeed in coaxing a maximum of sound magic and atmosphere from the economically set notes."
(Gießener Anzeiger 4.8.2001)

Gershwin, Ravel, Poulenc

George Gerschwin

Cuban Overture
(in der originalen vierhändigen Fassung vom Komponisten)

10:57

Maurice Ravel
Ma mère l’oye

2.	Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant	1:53
3.	Petit Poucet	2:42
4.	Laideronette, impératrice des Pagodes	3:21
5.	Les Entretiens de la Belle et la Bête	3:38
6.	Le Jardin féerique	3:16

Francis Poulenc

7.	L’embarquement pour Cythère	2:14
8.	Capriccio (d’après “Le bal masqué”)	4:52

George Gerschwin

Rhapsody in Blue
(in der originalen Fassung für 2 Klaviere vom Komponisten)

18:07

FREIBURGER MUSIK FORUM GmbH
AM 1307-2

Strawinsky, Bartók

Klavierduo Hans-Peter und Volker Stenzl
Uwe Arlt, Gyula Rácz – Schlagzeug

"The Stenzls develop a wide spectrum of tone colours and never sound monotonous, not even in the mechanical. Uwe Arlt and Gyula Rácz are past masters in demonstrating the diverse possibilities of the percussion instruments. It goes without saying that these four musicians approach Bartók’s sonata, a document of the despair brought about by the world-wide catastrophe of 1937, the time it was written, with harsh sounds, and that they develop many finely balanced nuances between elemental force and pensiveness. This production is indeed something of a sensation."
(Fono Forum 09/2002)

Strawinsky, Bartók

Igor Strawinsky (1882-1971)

1.-11.

Pétrouchka
Bearbeitet für 2 Klaviere und Schlagzeug
von Gyula Rácz (Konzertfassung)
Weltersteinspielung

Béla Bartók (1881-1945)

12.-14.

Sonate für zwei Klaviere und Schlagzeug

FREIBURGER MUSIK FORUM GmbH
AM 1332-2

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

"A refreshing breeze blows through this Mozart interpretation without ignoring the layers beneath the surface. Its broken cheerfulness wavers between orchestral potency and sudden intimacy, between self-confidence and hesitation. In short - Mozart incarnate."
(RONDO, Juli 2005)

Sonate für zwei Klaviere D-Dur, KV 448

1.	Allegro con spirito	7:40
2.	Andante	6:48
3.	Molto Allegro	6:13

Fantasie f-moll KV 608 (“Orgelstück für eine Uhr“)

4.	Allegro	2:45
5.	Andante-Tempo I	6:49

Sonate für Klavier zu vier Händen F-Dur, KV 497

6.	Adagio	2:16
7.	Allegro di molto	6:31
8.	Andante	8:30
9.	Allegro	7:24

FREIBURGER MUSIK FORUM GmbH
AM 1386-2

Hommage à Mozart

Klavierduo Hans-Peter und Volker Stenzl Jazzduo Mick Baumeister und Richie Beirach

"Reciprocal reverberations of classical interpretation and jazz adaption reveal surprising relations in the -Hommage à Mozart-."
(Piano News 2/2008)

Hommage à Mozart

1.	Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Sonate D-Dur, KV 448 1. Allegro con spirito	7:41
2.	Mick Baumeister Ballade about Mozart	5:27
3.	Richie Beirach Fantasy on a Theme from Mozart Piano Concerto KV 488 Adagio	7:27
4.	Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Réminscences de Don Juan	15:14
5.	Mick Baumeister Vicious Circle	14:09
	Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sonate C-Dur KV 19d
6.	I. Allegro	4:23
7.	II. Menuetto	3:13
8.	III. Rondeau, Allegretto	5:09

Membran
ARS MUSICI 232417

C. Saint-Saëns, Der Karneval der Tiere

Benefizkonzert für Hellabrunn

Gioacchino Rossini
1.	Ouvertüre zu „Die diebische Elster“	9:28
Josef Strauß
2.	„Die Libelle“ op.204	4:21
Igor Strawinsky
3.	„Circus Polka“ –komponiert für einen jungen Elefanten	3:37
Camille Saint-Saëns „Der Karneval der Tiere“ mit Texten von Prof. Herbert Rosendorfer Sprecherin: Gisela Schneeberger Münchner Symphoniker Leitung: Carlos Dominguez-Nieto
4.	Introduktion und Einmarsch des Löwen	3:31
5.	Hühner und Hähne	1:29
6.	Wilde Tiere	1:36
7.	Schildkröten	2:51
8.	Der Elefant	2:43
9.	Kängurus	1:38
10.	Aquarium	3:09
11.	Persönlichkeiten mit langen Ohren	1:44
12.	Der Kuckuck in der Tiefe des Waldes	3:32
13.	Volière	2:11
14.	Pianisten	2:42
15.	Fossilien	3:03
16.	Der Schwan	4:06
17.	Finale	1:50
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov
18.	Der Hummelflug	2:51

Vinko Globokar

Trombone Solo: Vinko Globokar

Oblak Semen

15:50

Klavierduo Stenzl
Zwei Klaviere

Discours IX

18:30

26 Instruments: Orchestra Giovanile Italiana

Zlom

22:40

SARGASSO
SCD28037

Mozart Klavierkonzerte

Mozart (1756-1791)

Rainer Koch

Klavierkonzert Nr. 27, KV 595, B-Dur Larghetto