The Guevara & Zhelezova

Piano Duo
 GUEVARA&ZHELEZOVA
Piano Duo
Hailed for their dynamic interpretations,
powerful stage presence, and elegance, the
Guevara & Zhelezova Piano Duo has been
praised as “impeccable, simply wonderful!” (El
Sol de Orizaba, Mexico), “…great display of
talent” (Diario De Morelos, Mexico) “…exotic,
stunning and sensual” (Atencion San Miguel,
Mexico.) Named “remarkable entertainers,”
the unique duo combines the cultural heritages
and temperaments of Latin America and
Eastern Europe and is committed to bringing a
vast repertoire ranging from Baroque to newly-
commissioned works to audiences of all ages
all over the world.
Mexican pianist Citlalli Guevara and Bulgarian
pianist Slavina Zhelezova, both winners of
prestigious international competitions and
awards, began their musical collaboration
in 2008 as two young pianists in the highly
competitive Bell’arte Foundation Program
based in Brussels. Working closely under the
tutelage of Philippe Entremont and Nelson
delle Vigne Fabbri, the two immediately
bonded based on their shared vision for the
unique artistic potential of the music for piano
duo. The duo debuted to a standing ovation at
the Palm Beach International Piano Festival in
February 2009.
Since then, the duo has performed across
three continents as recitalists and soloists with
orchestra. Recent performance highlights
include recitals at the 20th En Blanco y
Negro International Piano Festival (Mexico
City, Mexico), the Duo Cycle Series of UNAM
(Mexico City, Mexico), Pro-Musica Concert
Series (San Miguel de Allende), the Classical
Series at the Cornelia Street Café (New York
City) and the Harvard Club of New York Concert
Series . Other festival appearances have
included Taiwan National Orchestra Summer
Festival, Palm Beach International Piano
Festival (Palm Beach, USA), Schumann-Chopin
International Piano Festival (Cuernavaca,
Mexico) and Xalapa International Summer
Festival (Xalapa, Mexico). Notable orchestral
appearances include the highly-acclaimed
Mexican premiere of Schnittke’s four-hand
concerto with the Guanajuato Symphony
Orchestra, appearances with Zacatecas
Symphony Orchestra (Zacatecas, Mexico),
Xalapa Chamber Orchestra (Xalapa, Mexico),
Puebla Symphony Orchestra (Puebla, Mexico),
Sonora Philharmonic Orchestra (Hermosillo,
Mexico) and Michoacan Symphony Orchestra
(Morelia, Mexico).
The duo has toured Mexico extensively with
many sold-out performances, including Teatro
del Estado in Xalapa, Teatro Clavijero in
Veracruz and Teatro Ocampo in Cuernavaca. In
Uruapan, Mexico, the duo presented the first
ever performance on two pianos to an audience
of 3,000, which was televised.
The duo is active in introducing audiences
to duo-piano repertoire and has given the
Mexican premiere of Ravel’s Bolero and Pablo
Ziegler’s arrangements of Piazzolla’s tangos for
two pianos. They also performed the highly-
acclaimed Taiwanese premiere of Ziegler’s
tango arrangements at the National Taiwan
Symphony Orchestra Hall in Taichung.
The duo is due to release its long-anticipated
debut album, Midnight Conversations on
Centaur Records in the fall of 2017.
In addition to their duo pursuit, both enjoy
successful international career as soloists
and chamber musicians. Citlalli earned her
Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of
Veracruz and Master of Music Degree at the
Manhattan School of Music; Slavina holds
Bachelor of Music degree from the Mannes
College of Music, Master of Music Degree from
the Manhattan School of Music and is currently
working on her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree
at the Manhattan School of Music.
 AUDIO
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO LISTEN

VIDEOS
M. Ravel – La valse A. Márquez – Danzón No. 2 F. Poulenc- Concerto for two pianos
(excerpt) (excerpt) (excerpt)

A. Piazzolla- Libertango
Four-hand arrangement by A. Schnittke – Concerto for Piano Four Hands
and Chamber Orchestra F. Poulenc- Sonata
C. Guevara & S. Zhelezova
 PRESS

Citlalli and Slavina captivate at the Teatro Principal

...Citlalli, Slavina and the Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra get a standing ovation at the Teatro
Principal...
Manuel Carrillo, Periódico AM- March 17, 2014

Four Hands-One Piano

...And, I should mention, two pairs of very elegant heels! The Guevara and Zhelezova Piano Duo are
not just the most talented piano duo in Latin America, but the best looking as well…and wait until you
see the sensual way they play the piano and twist and turn around it like elegant dancers performing a
musical ballet on the black and white keys...
Michael Pearl- November 30, 2012

Stunning piano duo to make their debut in San Miguel

...These two young women come on stage in ravishing slinky evening gowns, complementing their
long dark hair and fashion model looks... They sometimes get up and dance while still hitting the
keyboard... They are remarkable entertainers known for their dynamic interpretations, energetic stage
performances and original programs...
Beverly Russell, November 22, 2012

Citlalli Guevara and Slavina Zhelezova astonish audiences with their performance at the
Schumann-Chopin Piano Festival.
...The synchrony and perfect harmony of four hands on one piano impressed the audience at Teatro
Ocampo… the pianists swayed with perfect synchrony and rhythm, with their eyes focused on the
score they were playing. Later, each took to her own instrument individually to demonstrate a great
display of talent...
Ingrid Díaz, Diario de Morelos- June 12, 2010

Two women, two pianos, four hands and a connoisseur audience were the elements that
assured a most successful musical evening last Friday when pianists Citlalli Guevara and Slavina
Zhelezova performed their “Del Vals al Tango II” recital at the Teatro Clavijero.
...This fascinating recital, giving the audience an unforgettable experience, offered an explosion of
different feelings, provoked by the tenderness and gentleness of the rhythmical waltzes and, on
the other hand, by the fast and melancholic sways of the tangos... Both pianists performed with
an evident command of technique and virtuosity beyond question; performed with vigor …
ending their performance with a virtuoso interpretation of Ravel’s La Valse...
Jorge González, Imagen de Veracruz- June 14, 2010

With tremendous success, Bulgarian and Mexican concert pianists Slavina Zhelezova and
Citlalli Guevara, dazzled the Uruapan audience giving a recital for 1200 people at the DIF
Cultural Center
...Such a concert was an enormous treat for the people of Uruapan and the impact on the audience
was unmatched; an event of such importance is historical for the city… The event concluded with a
euphoric standing ovation and the perfect harmony of Maurice Ravel’s La Valse. This was a unique
event of top-notch level without any question!...
Quadratín- Agencia mexicana de información y análisis June 12, 2010

…Nothing less than excellent…

...This recital brought back musical events of highest standard in the most successful way...
Impeccable, simply wonderful!...
Eblyn Josafat Molina, El sol de Orizaba- June 8, 2010
 REPERTOIRE

ORCHESTRAL

TWO PIANOS ONE PIANO FOUR HANDS

W. A. Mozart C. Czerny
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in E-flat major, K. 365 Concerto for Piano Four Hands and Orchestra
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in F major, K. 242 in C major, Op. 153

F. Poulenc A. Schnittke
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor Concerto for Piano Four Hands and Chamber Orchestra

C. Saint-Saëns
Le carnaval des animaux

B. Martinů
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra

B. Bartok
Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion
and Orchestra
FOUR-HAND SAMPLE PROGRAMS

Midnight Conversations
M. Ravel
Ma mère l’oye

F. Poulenc
Sonata for Piano Four Hands

A. Piazzolla
Muerte del ángel, Milonga del ángel
and
Libertango
(arr. by Zhelezova/Guevara)

- intermission -

F. Schubert
Marche militaire No.1, D. 778

A. Dvořák
Slavonic Dance, Op. 72 No. 2

I. Stravinsky
Danse Russe from Pétrouchka

S. Rachmaninov
Six morceaux, Op. 11

Souvenirs from Vienna

F. Schubert
Trois marches militaires, D. 778

W. A. Mozart
Sonata in D major, K. 381

S. Barber
Souvenirs, Op. 28

- intermission -

F. Schubert
Fantasy in F Minor, D. 940

J. Brahms
Hungarian Dances Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5
 TWO-PIANO SAMPLE PROGRAMS

Of Foreign Lands
PROJECT DANCE Café Terrace and People
A. Piazzolla F. Poulenc F. Schubert
Adios Nonino Sonata for Piano Four Hands Marche militaire No.1, D. 778
Le Grand Tango
J. Brahms F. Poulenc
M. Ravel Hungarian Dances Nos. 1, 2, 4 & 5 Sonata for Piano Four Hands
Bolero
A. Piazzolla S. Rachmaninov
A. Márquez Fuga y Misterio Six morceaux, Op. 11
Danzón No. 2 Adios Nonino
Libertango - intermission -
- intermission -
- intermission - A. Márquez
P. Vladigerov Danzón No. 2
Hora-Staccato F. Poulenc
Foxtrott Concerto for Two Pianos P. Vladigerov
(solo version) Hora-Staccato
F. Chopin Foxtrott
Rondo in C major, Op. 16 M. Ravel
La valse A. Piazzolla
M. Ravel Le Grand Tango
La valse
M. Ravel
La valse