Katia Labèque / Marielle Labèque AMORIA

The two Labèque sisters are Basque in origin, having been born on the southwest coast of France near the Spanish border. Katia and Marielle are a sharply contrasted, yet highly communicative piano team. While their joint reputation was won initially through the performance of unusual repertoire, they have not neglected traditional works for two pianos.

For this vibrant and colorful album, the Labèque sisters reconnect with their Basque roots to explore a fabulously varied program that roams over five centuries of music. Joined variously by singers, percussionists, and a viola da gamba player, they weave a wonderful tapestry of sounds that reaches a toe-tapping climax with “Boléro” by Maurice Ravel (also of Basque lineage). The Labèques’ awe-inspiring unanimity of playing again takes the breath away, but they also find a gentler, almost melancholy quality that’s very touching. Folk music and art music collide here and create something very modern yet strangely timeless.