Paratore, Anthony

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Paratore, Anthony

Paratore, Anthony (b. Boston, June 17, 1944) and his brother, Joseph Paratore (b. Boston, March 19, 1948), outstanding American duo-pianists. They followed separate courses of study as pianists, graduating from the Boston Univ. School of Fine and Applied Arts; both entered the Juilliard School of Music in N.Y., in the class of Rosina Lhévinne, who suggested that they try a career as duo-pianists; they subsequently appeared as duo-pianists with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orch., and then made their N.Y. recital debut in 1973. In 1974 they won 1st prize at the Munich International Competition, and thereafter scored international successes as duo-pianists. In addition to the standard repertory, they also perf. contemporary works; commissioned and gave the premiere of Michael Schelle’s Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orch. (Indianapolis, Jan. 14, 1988). They also gave the premiere of William Bolcom’s Sonata for 2 Pianos (Lafayette, Ind., April 6, 1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire