Described by the critics as glowing, flashing and brilliant, Duo Petrof was founded in 2003 by Mexican pianists of Russian origin Anatoly Zatin and Vlada Vassilieva. Their performances are acclaimed in America, Europe and Asia; the contagious dynamism that characterizes this duo has set new standards in four-hand performance, surprising audiences by their originality, creativity and success. Their repertoire is one-of-a-kind: most of it consists of unique arrangements made especially for and by them, thus broadening and reinventing the genre of piano duo.
Highlight performances include Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall and Bohemian Hall in New York; Royce Hall in Los Angeles; Rudolfinum in Prague, the Oriental Art Center in Shanghai, the First International Art Festival in Kyrgyzstan; Semper Music Festival in Italy; Kulturforum in Berlin; Musical Spring and Silver Lyre festivals in Russia; Sofia Music Weeks in Bulgaria; the Fine Arts Palace in Mexico City, among many others.
Their two-piano version of El Jarabe Tapatío (a Mexican traditional dance) was nominated at the 2016 Hollywood Music in Media Awards. First prize winners of the 2018 United States International Duo Piano Competition and prize winners at the 2017 On Stage international classical music competition, they were recognized by the 2016 Mexican Music Awards as the Contemporary-Classical Duo of the Year, receiving the award at Symphony Space in New York City.
Their album Duo Petrof plays Ant. Petrof won Silver Medal at the 2017 Global Music Awards, as did their album 88x2, Music for two pianos in 2015 (both on Columna Música). Celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2013 the duo released the CD Idilio Mexicano. That year they were invited to perform the first concert on the new Antonin Petrof premium line of pianos, in celebration of the 150 years of Petrof Pianos of the Czech Republic. In 2001, their recital in Dallas, Texas was named among the best concerts by the performing arts magazine Theater Jones.
Duo Petrof is an ensemble in residence at the University of Colima in Mexico. Anatoly Zatin and Vlada Vassilieva are members of the Petrof Art Family, the International Academy of Performing Arts and Sciences, and the International Piano Duo Association in Japan. They are fervent admirers and proud ambassadors of Petrof Pianos worldwide.
Composer, pianist and conductor Dr. Anatoly Zatin is winner of international music competitions and frequent performer at the most important music festivals around the globe. He has been awarded the prestigious Mozart Medal in 2015 and the UNICEF Medal of Honour in 1990 for his activities as pianist and conductor. He has toured Sweden, Norway, Deutschland, Finland, England, France, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Japan, China, Korea, United States of America and Mexico in numerous occasions, performing at many of the world’s most important concert venues. He has recorded for companies such as Melodia in Russia, Azzurra Music in Italy, and Aurora Classical in Japan. Graduated as Doctor of Musical Arts at the San Petersburg’s Conservatory of Music, Dr. Zatin is professor at the University of Colima in Mexico where he was also chairman of the Music Department (2001-2011) and dean of the Fine Arts institute (2011-2016).
Winner of the 2010 Nadia Reisenberg Award for pianists in New York City; laureate of international piano competitions in the Unites States, Canada, Mexico and Ukraine; a noted soloist and chamber musician, Vlada Vassilieva performs at prestigious concert venues in America, Europe and Asia. Fulbright Garcia-Robles grantee (2008), MM at Mannes College for Music in New York City, BM at the Fine Arts Institute of the University of Colima, Ms. Vassilieva is a full-time faculty member at the Music Department of the University of Colima, and formerly guest faculty at the National Music Conservatory in Mexico. Audience and critics alike appreciate her mature performances, impetuous character and stage presence.