Double delight

1:54pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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THE internationally renowned identical twin sisters Antoinette and Claire Cann will be performing a sparkling programme of piano duets at St John the Baptist Church, Aymestrey, near Leominster on Saturday, May 24, at 7.30pm. Antoinette and Claire first played the piano when they were three years old, picking out tunes on the family piano. “The first thing we picked out was the theme to Listen with Mother.” Starting lessons was apparently the only time the pair were at odds about their playing. “Toni was very keen to go,” says Claire. “But at the time, Claire was shy,” adds Antoinette.

Once lessons began, however, they were totally in tune, both making the decision that music was where their future lay.

“When we were eight we went to a marvellous Saint-Saens concert and both decided privately that we wanted to be concert pianists,” says Antoinette.

“But we weren’t advanced enough at the time for anyone to take us seriously, so we kept it a secret,” adds Claire.

Then, when they were 10, the twins went to a teacher who transformed their playing and declared that music was the only future for them.

“It was easy to decide to play together,” they agree. “It comes naturally and we’re really well balanced technically. We’re equally good at things and equally bad at things.” The twins play from memory, which, they say, is better than playing from a score.

“There is more telepathy with twins, so it’s less dangerous – we cover for each other.” Their virtuoso programme on May 24 includes Polovtsian Dances by Borodin, three Nutcracker Dances by Tchaikovsky, Fantasia in F Minor by Schubert, Blue Danube Waltzes by Johann Strauss, Tourbillon by John Carmichael and Liszt’s Second Hungarian Rhapsody.

Claire and Antoinette’s career has taken them all over the world and they’ve performed with many orchestras. Their recordings have won Gramophone Critic’s Choice, Classic FM Critic’s Choice and a coveted rosette in the Penguin Guide.

To book tickets, priced £12 (to include a glass of wine), call 01568 770431.