All the Press

“Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle are a formidably well-equipped duo (...) It goes without saying that the duo’s ensemble precision is second to none. Their characterisation of each piece is as witty, charming or spirited as need be”

"The album is absolutely delightful and the duo demonstrates a mastery of sound, of the pedal, of the transitions between one and the other, of the attacks, of the dosage of dynamics and of the tonal timbre. What a pleasure to listen to Bizet's Jeux d'enfants interpreted with such subtlety, or Debussy's Petite suite, with such grace and delicacy. We could not miss the essential and precious Dolly suite by Fauré (brilliant and full of sunshine that Pas espagnol) nor, of course, Ma mèrel'Oye in a version that does not pretend to emulate the orchestral version, but explores the timbre possibilities of the piano to its last corners providing a renewed and colorful vision (fantastic those Entretiens de la Belle et la Bête) with a masterful use of the pedal. A very interesting work by the little known Louis Aubert (...) closes this little jewel."

"An album that puts you in a good mood (...) And when they are interpreted as virtuosically and with as much tonal sophistication as here, the little character pieces turn out to be great art. Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle have the right lightness for this repertoire, layering wonderful harmonies on top of each other, against which delicate melodies emerge. The cantabile quality of their playing is impressive. Melancholic echoes never become sentimental. (...) A real enrichment of the repertoire!"

CHOC de Classica
"The liveliness of tone and mischievousness not devoid of humor, the airy fluidity, the homogeneity of timbre, the poetic tenderness and voluptuousness testify to a constantly awakening imagination (...) The inventiveness that prevails throughout this musical journey straddling the worlds of children and adults is a constant source of wonder."

"The duo of Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle move through this tender, naive universe with unmistakable grace, an acute sense of narrative, a delicate touch at all times, and an ad hoc sense of humor."

5 Diapasons
"a rejuvenating cure and a lesson in beautiful piano playing"

"my favorite piano duo (...) The alternately trumpeting and tender mischief of Jeux d'enfants, the very Île-de-France whimsy of Petite suite (...) the tenderness of Dolly and the irresistible drive of her Pas espagnol, so brilliantly flown here, Louis Aubert's rare Feuille d'Images, full of otherworldly sound, (...) all of them, however formidable, must take a back seat to their Ma mère l'Oye, that Pavane de la Belle bois dormant so sad, that Petit Poucet turning back so quickly, these grand theatrical Pagodes with a mystery at their center, this dreamlike Garden, all setting this lightly touched waltz of Les Entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête, noble and sentimental just as it should be."

"Passage Secret" is the "Musical Choice" of Belgian radio Musiq3
"Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle, a duo of lovers, enchant these famous cycles of French music (Bizet's Jeux d'enfants, Debussy's Petite Suite, Ravel's Ma mère l'Oye and Gabriel Fauré's Dolly) with a perfect fusion of their playing. [...] This is what Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle reveal to us, an orchestra with a thousand spurts, but also a piano that tells, that tells the stories of a boat, a spinning top, Laideronnette or Dolly's Garden, as a mother would tell them, at the edge of bed, before giving in to the mists of sleep"

"Modulations, note play, love: on stage and off, Ancelle and Berlinskaya live happily ever after, to our great delight."

"The sharpest piano duo of our time, Ludmila Berlinskaya & Arthur Ancelle, succeeds in making us forget individualities by creating a melting, delicate sound from which colors burst forth in profusion, radiating and instantly capturing the listener. All the four-hand masterpieces of French music are here, magnified as rarely before."

"Essential listening (...) you can sense Berlinskaya and Ancelle grinning. All great fun – you need this CD."

5 Diapasons
"Ludmila Berlinskaia and Arthur Ancelle are the advocates of a figure as original as he is unknown in the West: Alexander Tsfasman. His Jazz Suite is a delight, dazzling with lightness and charm. The performers' skill and cohesion are also marvelous in Gershwin's skilful arrangements for two pianos. A beautiful fireworks display."

"Ten years ago, these two French and Russian pianists met around the formation for two pianos that they have since contributed to bring to its highest level. This CD brings together two composers influenced by jazz, one American, the other Soviet. (...) The duet reaches the ultimate in homogeneity, freedom and a jubilant rhythmic sense."

"For ten years, the Franco-Russian duo has been reaching the summits of the repertoire for two pianos. (...) The two of them are a model of accomplishment. (...) Between jazz and classical music, as virtuoso as they are inventive, Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle create magnificent orchestral atmospheres, audacious worlds alternately adorned with elegance or fantasy, in a saving bulimia of dreams, joy and music."

"All the pieces by this little-known composer, presented in this recording, exude a rhythmic ease and melodic solidity which, in our opinion, deserve a wider audience, even if one often notices a touch of rigidity in comparison with the inimitable plasticity of Gershwin's compositions. This observation in no way affects the enthusiasm and immense technical qualities of Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle, who are capable of drawing us into the heart of these works for our greatest pleasure."

CHOC de Classica
"As virtuoso as it is rigorous, the playing of Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle has the indispensable qualities (balance of textures, rhythmic mastery, precision) to venture into a repertoire that also demands panache, insouciance and audacity. (...) A tour de force."

"For ten years, the Franco-Russian couple Arthur Ancelle and Ludmila Berlinskaya have formed one of the most beautiful duos of pianists in the world. (...) It's a winning bet for the Berlinskaya-Ancelle duo, who dazzle and move us with their sparkling, airy, tender and lyrical playing."

"The result is a multi-colored record that unites two musical styles to form a unique work that is perfectly rendered and gives the impression of a mischievous cat bouncing on the keys of two pianos. (...) There is something truly addictive about this music that music that one listens to again and again."

ffff
"Not only do pianists Ludmila Berlinskaya and Arthur Ancelle bring the two composers together on the same album of delicious swing. They really make dialogue between their works, arranged and transposed by various artists with as much skill as imagination. (...) A beautiful discovery."

"Celebrating 10 years together, the Russo-French duo of Berlinskaya and Ancelle offer a stunning display of tone, touch, timing and teamwork. Variously cultured and earthy, dizzying and glittering, their pianism fuses liberal imagination, rhythmic flexibility and swing with classical attention to detail and articulation. Unmissable."