The piano duo Egri & Pertis, working away from the hustle and bustle of the media but internationally renowned, was founded by the pianist couple Monika Egri and Attila Pertis. Both are born in Budapest, studied first in Hungary, moved to Austria and completed their second piano diploma with Prof. Heinz Medjimorec at the University of Music in Vienna.
While still studying, they won piano duo competitions in Finale Ligure and Caltanisetta (Italy), gala concerts on Italian and Hungarian television, at the Budapest Spring Festival and at the Wiener Musikverein. Invitations from various European festivals: Carinthian Summer (already five times), Vienna Festival Weeks, KlangBogen Vienna, Master Concerts St. Pölten, MIDEM Classique Cannes, London Bishopsgate Series etc. Performances in renowned concert halls in France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Great Britain, Switzerland and the USA (including Kennedy Center in Washington).
Tour in America and Canada.
Their goal: researching and rehearsing the forgotten or undiscovered treasures of duo literature.
Purchase of a Pleyel double grand piano, a rarity with only a few existing instruments worldwide.
Presentation of the instrument as part of their debut at the Wiener Musikverein.
Exclusive contract with the record company Hungaroton Classic.
Their complete recording of all opera fantasies by Franz Liszt was awarded the “Grand Prix International du Disque Liszt”.
Acclaimed debut with the Pleyel double grand piano at the Vienna Music Society as part of the Vienna Festival Weeks.
Further awards: Liszt State Prize in Hungary, as well as Grammophon Prize and Artisjus Prize.
2008 Birth of their daughter, temporary withdrawal from international concert life.
2013 Comeback, which is cancelled due to Attila Pertis being seriously injuries in a car accident in 2014, which he suffered through no fault of his own.
2016 another comeback, this time without any obstacles.
Since then, continuous expansion of their concert activities.
Current projects:
The duo’s main sponsor is the OTP Bank (Hungary).
A girl, a boy, both under fifteen, both absolutely no early risers, sit tired but happy in the practice room of the Budapest Music High School at six in the morning. They are just discovering the joy of making music together. From this joy their passion for this form arises and so does their love for each other.
Later they study together at the University of Music in Vienna, both with Prof. Medjimorec in his concert class. He is a ground-breaking teacher and the years with him shape their whole life.
They marry while still in their studies and after their diploma examinations they decide to work only as a duo. They expand their repertoire, spend weeks in Washington, in the Library of Congress, return with 43 kilograms of notes and plunge into studying, playing.
The most important events of this time: debut at the Vienna Music Society, Vienna Concert House, Kennedy Center Washington, tours in North America and the Middle East, concerts in Europe and an exclusive contract with the label Hungaroton Classic.
They acquire a wonderful instrument rarity: a Pleyel double grand piano, and they are not the only ones being enthusiastic about its sound. The CD Double Grand Piano Series is born at Hungaroton.
After the birth of their daughter in 2008, they retire from international concert life for a while, but in 2013, they are back in full swing.
Unfortunately, Attila 2014 is seriously injured in a car accident – suffered from through no fault of his own – but he recovers completely.
So, their real comeback takes place in the Season 2016/17.
Since then, they have returned to Europe to realize some long-awaited dreams, such as performing Rachmaninoff’s and Beethoven’s complete works for piano duet, as well as starting their own concert cycle called “Crosstalks” in the Budapest Music Center.
