Romanian-born sisters Sarah and Deborah Nemtanu form a violin-playing dynasty: Sarah has been leader of the Orchestre National de France since 2001 and Deborah leads the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris. Both began violin studies with their father Vladimir who led the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine.

The Nemtanu Sisters’ Romanian blood makes them the perfect, idiomatic interpreters of Bartok’s 44 Duos: all the songs and dances are based on folk music from many Eastern Europe countries. The harmonic and rhythmic freedom demanded by the music is second nature to them, as demonstrated in the notable track: [38] Forgatós: ‘Romanian Whirling Song’.

No strangers to the recording studio, the sisters have previously recorded the Bach Double Concerto to critical acclaim. Norman Lebrecht chose it as a Disc of the week on Sinfini Music: “Their musical dialogue is full of fascination, alternately confrontational and playful, challenging and interactive.”