Dynamic Piano Duo: Giulia Varga & Siro Saracino

PROGRAM:

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) – Norwegian Dance no 1 in D minor

Norwegian Dance no 2 in A Major

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) – Slavonic Dance op 72 no 2 in E minor

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) Russian Theme op. 11 no 3

Piotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) – Swan Lake Suite: no 1: Scene (arranged for piano duet by Eduard Langer)

Nutcracker: March (arranged for piano duet by Eduard Langer)

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) – Waltzes op. 39 no 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 15

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) – Danse Macabre (arranged for piano duet by E. Guiraud)

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) – Second Waltz from Jazz Suite No 2 (arranged for piano duet by Gregor Gardemann)

Sir Anthony Hopkins (1937) – And The Waltz Goes On, arranged for piano four hands by Dynamic Piano Duo

Siro Saracino – Ozone

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) – Libertango (arranged for piano four hands by Dynamic Piano Duo)

Giulia Varga and Siro Saracino are the Dynamic Piano Duo, an internationally acclaimed piano four hands duo whose aim is to make every concert a uniquely memorable experience. The Dynamic Piano Duo is celebrated for their innovative creativity and eclectic selection of piano duet music. Their concert presentations showcase their imaginative reinterpretations of classical works, ranging from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky to contemporary music, in addition to traditional duet pieces and compositions by modern composers. Giulia and Siro engage and enlighten the audience with captivating music, ensuring that every concert is a distinctive and unforgettable experience for those in attendance. An italian based duo, in 2024 they began a concert activity in the United States where they performed with great success. On June 1st, 2025 they also appeared at the prestigious Bibiena Art Festival in Italy—one of the most important Italian chamber music festivals—further solidifying their presence on the international stage. Currently, the Dynamic Piano Duo is engaged for the next three years, bringing their unique artistry to international stages and continuing to inspire audiences worldwide. Dynamic Piano Duo is also renowned for their arrangements for piano four-hands, which are played and utilized by other piano duos around the world. This includes an exclusive legal arrangement permitted by Hal Leonard Publishing Company of ‘And The Waltz Goes On’ by Sir Anthony Hopkins and ‘Purple Haze’ by Jimi Hendrix.

Giulia Varga (b. 2007) is an Italian pianist whose artistry blends crystalline precision, lyrical breadth, and a vibrant stage presence. She began piano studies in 2016 at the “Una nota in più” School of Music in Sovere with Siro Saracino and, at just twelve, won First Prize (Category A) at the Val Tidone International Competition (2019), an early milestone that led to frequent young-artist concerts and multiple merit scholarships. In 2023 she was honored with the MTNA Music Study Award with Distinction, underscoring her steady artistic growth and refined musicality. The following year she appeared as a soloist in Arizona and New Mexico, presenting programs that highlighted her command of color, phrasing, and form. Alongside her solo trajectory,

Giulia performs widely with Siro Saracino as the Dynamic Piano Duo, with engagements across Europe and the United States; as the duo’s youngest member, she contributes incisive ensemble awareness, rhythmic vitality, and an immediately communicative energy. Complementing her performance career, she is also active as a teacher: she works with young pianists in lessons and workshops, focusing on healthy technique, attentive listening, and confident stagecraft, and she has given multiple masterclasses in collaboration with MTNA, bringing the same detail-oriented, human sensitivity to her pedagogy that defines her performances.

Siro Saracino, born in 1969, is an acclaimed Italian pianist whose artistry bridges tradition and innovation. He began his piano studies at the “G. Nicolini” Conservatory in Piacenza, graduating with full marks in 1989 under Professor Giovanna Busatta, heir to the distinguished piano lineage of Gino Gorini and Gino Tagliapietra—the latter a favored pupil of Ferruccio Busoni. From an early age, Saracino launched a brilliant career as a soloist, earning prizes in numerous national and international competitions. He has appeared in renowned venues and festivals worldwide, including Katzin Concert Hall (Arizona, USA), Keller Hall (New Mexico, USA), Mandeville Recital Hall (San Diego, USA), Doc Rando Recital Hall (Las Vegas, USA), Lindlar Klavierfestival (Germany), and NTUE International Piano Festival (Taipei, Taiwan). His concertizing has also taken him to Asia and the Middle East, further affirming his international presence. In 2011, he was invited to Trinity College in London for a recital and masterclass.

He has given piano masterclasses and served as a visiting professor at numerous universities, including the University of New Mexico, Towson University in Baltimore, Santa Clara University, Humboldt State University, National University of Taipei (Taiwan), University of California San Diego, and California State University Los Angeles. His recordings for La Bottega Discantica have been warmly received, and his performances have been broadcast on specialized radio stations such as Rai Radio 3 and KBAQ (USA). Alongside his solo career, Saracino passionately collaborates with pianist Giulia Varga as the Dynamic Piano Duo, a four-hands ensemble celebrated for its creative programs, original transcriptions, and premieres of contemporary works. The Duo has performed extensively across Europe and the United States, and their repertoire—spanning traditional masterpieces, newly commissioned works, and their own compositions—has been met with enthusiastic acclaim. Saracino’s own original works for the Duo are regularly featured in their concerts and published for performance by other ensembles worldwide. Equally devoted to pedagogy, immediately after graduation Saracino won Italy’s national ministerial competition for professorships, embarking on a distinguished teaching career. He taught at the Conservatory of Palermo (1998–2007) and since 2007 has held the Chair of Piano Practice at the Luca Marenzio Conservatory of Brescia–Darfo B.T. He is also the author of Let’s Play Piano Now, an innovative piano method widely used by both children and adults. In addition, Saracino has served as an adjudicator at international competitions, sharing the jury with legendary pianists such as Lazar Berman and Karl-Heinz Kämmerling, an experience that profoundly shaped his artistic vision. Today, as a soloist, chamber musician, professor, and composer, Siro Saracino continues to inspire audiences and students alike with a musical voice that is both rooted in the great European tradition and boldly forward-looking.