The 14th Pianoduo Festival Amsterdam came to a successful close with a spectacular final concert by the world-renowned Silver-Garburg piano duo. For four days, Amsterdam was all about “Old Roots / New Roots,” during which we heard how music from the past can offer new inspiration and how familiar sounds can be rediscovered from a different perspective. Old masters such as Bach and Schubert were juxtaposed with contemporary composers and new compositions, performed by top international musicians and young talent.

Highlights undoubtedly included Bach to the Blues! with pianists Sven Figee and Peter Beets, and the New Jazz Orchestra, where Bach and jazz came together; the concerts by the internationally renowned Silver-Garburg Piano Duo; and a sold-out family concert of The Nutcracker, featuring the Scholtes & Janssens Piano Duo, storyteller Jantine van den Bosch, and sand artist Henrike van Engelenburg. The Italian duo Monti-Bianco, performing Bach’s Goldberg Variations in an arrangement for two pianos, drew a large audience. A special moment was the world premiere of Pentacle by Dutch composer Mattias Spee. As the winner of the Pianoduo Festival Composition Competition, he was given the opportunity to write a new composition for two pianos, which was performed during the opening concert by the Scholtes & Janssens Piano Duo. Young talent took center stage with the Morgan/Van Nee Duo and the students of the Pianoduo Festival Academy, the Rosa & Glukhovskiy Duo, who also performed three concerts at nursing homes throughout Amsterdam.

The next edition of the PFA will take place from October 7 through 10, 2027.