Ferhan and Ferzan Onder (Piano)
“Their immaculate ensemble-playing, their fiery
temperament and their virtuoso dexterity are proof of the extraordinary
pianistic qualities of the Oenders… they are hot!” [Michael Stenger/Fono
Forum]
The young twin-sisters Ferhan & Ferzan Oender
have established themselves as one of the most promising Piano-Duo of the
younger generation in the world’s concert circuit by means of their electrifying
playing. They began playing the piano only at age ten. Four years later, they
would win the „Jury Special Award” at the International Duo Competition in Terni
(Italy). After a series of further prizes, Ferhan & Ferzan won the First
Prize at the International Piano Duo Competition in Hamburg.
Extensive concert tours have then taken the pianists through all of Europe,
the Far East and America. They have performed in New York (Guggenheim), London
(Wigmore Hall), Dresden (Semperoper), Munich (Gasteig and Prinzregententheater),
Frankfurt (Alte Oper), Leipzig (Gewandhaus), Stuttgart (Liederhalle), Hamburg
(Musikhalle), Berlin (Philharmonie), Bremen (Glocke), Zьrich (Tonhalle),
Amsterdam (Concertgebouw), Kцln (Philharmonie), Barcelona (Palau de la Musica),
Istanbul, Tokio (Suntory Hall), Taipeh, Salzburg and their hometown Vienna
(Musikverein, Konzerthaus).
The twins have been invited to perform at various music festivals: Rheingau
Musik Festival, Salzburg Festival, Beethoven Festival Bonn, Wiener Festwochen,
Mozartfest, Wьrzburg, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Festival Classique de la
Haute Provence, Sommets Musicaux Gstaad, Festival Meckelnburg-Vorpommern,
Istanbul and Eskisehir Festivals, Ludwigsburger, Heidelberger and Weilburger
Schlossfestspiele. In 2003, they performed with Sir Peter Ustinov at the
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and at the Voestiva in Linz. Similar
musical-literary projects led to collaboration with Cornelia Froboess, Armin
Mьller-Stahl, Friedrich von Thun, Gьnther Jauch und Roger Willemsen.
Ferhan & Ferzan perform regularly with major orchestras like
Staatskapelle Dresden, Mozarteum Orchestra, dem Bruckner Orchestra Linz,
Dresdner Philharmonic, Philharmonia Wien, Stuttgarter Philharmonic, Zurich and
Stuttgart Chamber Orchestras, MDR Orchestra Leipzig, Orchestra Sinfonica di
Milano, Haydn Orchestra Bozen, Rheinland-Pfalz Philharmonic,
Tonkьnstler-Orchestra Niederцsterreich, RSO Zagreb and Bilkent Symphony
Orchestra Ankara. As a result of successful concert tours in Japan, Ferhan &
Ferzan toured all major Japanese cities with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg
with Hubert Soudant. 2004 they returned to Japan for concerts with the New Japan
Philharmonic (Christian Arming). Other concert tours took them to Mexico and USA
to perform with Florida Philharmonic and Toledo Symphony.
The duo has worked with conductors such as Christian Arming, John Axelrod,
Hans Graf, Howard Griffiths, Max Pommer, Ola Rudner, Stefan Sanderling, Hubert
Soudant, Muhai Tang, Israel Yinon, Gilbert Varga, Stefan Vladar, Hugh Wolff and
Massimo Zanetti.
Their first CD for EMI Classics, displaying Vivaldiґs Four Seasons and the
Bach-Variations by Gustav Nottebohm, won the coveted ECHO KLASSIK Prize of the
German Phono Academy. The next release of the Oenders for EMI was in fall 2003:
1001 Nights/Sheherezade.
Ferhan & Ferzan Oender initially received their solo training at the
Hacettepe University in Ankara, then at the Academy of Music in Vienna with Noel
Flores and Paul Badura-Skoda. Since their appearance at the Salzburg Festival on
the occasion of being presented the „Promotion Prize of the City of Salzburg” ,
the twins enjoy a close professional relationship with the Doyen of Piano Duos,
Alfons Kontarsky.
In 2003 they have been appointed “Goodwill Ambassadors” of UNICEF.
© www.ferhan-ferzan.com
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