This program is available exclusively for French-Romanian cultural co-presentation during the 2026-2027 season. Mădălina's Romanian heritage and Hugh's original transcriptions of Dobrogean folk music provide authentic cultural ambassadorship rarely found in piano duo programming.

The Artists

🏆 2024 London International Competition Winners

🏆 2023 Charleston International Competition Winners

Mădălina-Claudia Dănilă

Romanian Pianist | European Debut: Ruhr Klavierfestival (Germany)
Fortepiano Specialist | Temple University Alumnus

Mădălina brings authentic Romanian heritage and European training to this Franco-Romanian dialogue. Her expertise in historical performance practice and fortepiano informs her approach to both 19th-century French repertoire and traditional Romanian music. Her European debut at Germany's prestigious Ruhr Klavierfestival established her as an artist of international caliber.

Hugh Sung

Curtis Institute of Music Alumnus | Former Curtis Faculty (19 years) | 20-Year Duo Partnership with violinist Aaron Rosand

Hugh's Curtis pedigree and decades of chamber music experience provide the foundation for this duo's artistry. His work transcribing Dobrogean folk music demonstrates commitment to expanding the piano four-hand repertoire. Co-founder of AirTurn page-turning technology.

The Program

Cultural Diplomacy Through Music
This program traces the artistic dialogue between French and Romanian musical traditions, celebrating underrepresented voices (Bonis, Chaminade) alongside canonical figures (Enescu), while introducing original scholarly work that brings Romanian folk heritage to international audiences.

Mélanie Bonis (1858-1937)

Suite en forme de valses, Op. 39

A rediscovered treasure by one of the Paris Conservatoire's most gifted female composers. Bonis studied alongside Debussy under César Franck, yet her work remained largely unpublished during her lifetime due to gender barriers. This suite sparkles with French sophistication and harmonic innovation, revealing a voice that deserves recognition alongside her male contemporaries.

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)

Selected Works for Piano Four-Hands

Chaminade achieved unprecedented success as a female composer in Belle Époque Paris, touring extensively and earning the Légion d'honneur. Her piano works blend salon elegance with structural sophistication, demonstrating the artistic heights achieved by women composers despite institutional obstacles.

George Enescu (1881-1955)

Romanian Rhapsody No. 2, Op. 11 (arr. for four hands)

The musical bridge between Paris and Bucharest. Enescu studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Massenet and Fauré, becoming Romania's greatest composer and a symbol of national identity. His rhapsodies fuse French compositional technique with authentic Romanian folk material, embodying the cultural synthesis at the heart of this program.

Traditional Dobrogean Folk Music

Suita din Dobrogea (Suite from Dobrogea), transcribed by Mada & Hugh Piano Duo

These rarely-heard melodies from Romania's southeastern Dobrogea region represent original scholarly work, bringing centuries-old village music into concert presentation for piano four-hands. The transcriptions capture the modal character and rhythmic complexity of this folk tradition while adapting it for concert presentation.

Why This Program for Cultural Programming

Embassy Programming Fit: Program designed specifically for French-Romanian cultural collaboration, with authentic cultural ambassadorship (Mădălina's Romanian heritage) and original scholarly work preserving folk musical traditions
Underrepresented Voices: Features female composers (Bonis, Chaminade) whose work enriches the standard repertoire
Original Scholarship: Dobrogean transcriptions represent new contributions to international piano literature
Franco-Romanian Dialogue: Traces authentic historical and artistic connections between France and Romania
Educational Component: Rich program notes illuminate cultural and historical context
Professional Credentials: Curtis training, recent international competition wins, established performing careers
Co-Presentation Potential: Program designed for French-Romanian cultural collaboration

Booking Inquiries

Available for 2026-2027 season | Embassy concerts | Cultural exchange programs | Festival appearances

Mada & Hugh Piano Duo
madahugh@gmail.com

(856) 745-6717

Program length: 60 minutes | Technical requirements: Concert grand piano, two artist benches (or one duet bench) | Press kit and recordings available upon request