The piano duo of sisters Katia and Marielle Labèque marks over 55 years of collaboration with a new triple album. Titled 55, this collection reflects their long journey of musical partnership. The defining moment for the sisters came in 1969 at the Paris Conservatoire during a practice session of Olivier Messiaen’s Visions de l’Amen. Messiaen, a renowned composer and their teacher, offered one sister a chance to record the piece with his wife. They declined, preferring to remain a duo. Messiaen later guided them through their first recording.
The final track on their album is a piece from that initial recording. With 55 tracks, 55 celebrates the sisters’ enduring legacy. It features familiar pieces from their vast catalog, including works by Dvořák, Fauré, Gershwin, Bernstein, and Debussy. Yet, the set is more than a compilation of past successes. Nearly half of the tracks are new recordings.
The Labèques emphasize the inclusion of works by female composers. These contributions include compositions by Grażyna Bacewicz and a piece by the late Ethiopian nun Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou. Also highlighted are works by Lili Boulanger and an arrangement of ‘Troubled Water’ by Margaret Bonds.
About half of the tracks feature the sisters in dynamic, two-piano duets. Standout pieces include Manuel de Falla’s Spanish Dance No. 1 and James P. Johnson’s ‘Carolina Shout.’ Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in two-piano form showcases the duo’s raw energy and skill.
The sisters also explore four-handed repertoire, offering a more intimate experience. They revisit classics like Ravel’s Mother Goose and Bizet’s Jeux d’enfants. Lesser-known composers such as Marie Jaëll receive attention too, with works like Jaëll’s waltz revealing a blend of shadow and charm.
The album allows brief solo excursions for both Katia and Marielle. Katia collaborates with Chick Corea, plays the Bill Evans standard ‘We Will Meet Again,’ and performs pieces by William Duckworth and Dora Pejačević. Marielle’s solos include works by Erik Satie, Howard Skempton, and Bryce Dessner of The National.
Messiaen’s initial admiration of the Labèques remains evident in their music. Their precision, seamless interplay, and tonal warmth characterize their performances. For more than half a century, the sisters have transformed duo piano music, and 55 stands as testament to their revolutionary impact.