Katia Krivokochenko and François Gassion are two pianists who met at the Flame International Piano Competition, of which both are prize-winners. Being used to playing together for more than 15 years, Katia and François are a partnership whose perfect harmony and complicity are highly acclaimed at each performance.

Both former pupils of famous teachers (François studied with the pianist Gaby Casadesus – a friend of Maurice Ravel and Manuel de Falla -, Katia with Muza Rubackyté and Pierre Reach), they benefited, after graduating, from the teaching faculty among the most prestigious in Europe, notably Professor Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Maestro Sergio Perticaroli.

François and Katia both lead separate soloist careers around the World. They however often perform together in various festivals and concert halls in Europe, Asia and most recently in Latin America. Their four-hand duo has been highly acclaimed in Salzburg, Rome, various Parisian venues (Grenier des Grands-Augustins-Picasso, Unesco, Théâtre Marigny, Amphithéâtre de la Sorbonne,…), in Colombia (Bogota Museo Nacional, Medellin Universidad EAFIT, Cali Centro Cultural Comfandi), in China (Beijing Central Conservatory of Music, Chongqing University, Chengdu, Shanghai He Luting Hall, Macau Congress Hall, Shenyang Conservatory of Music, Xi’An Conservatory of Music, Hangzhou Wanxiang Mall…)… Some of their concerts have been broadcasted (Tele Pacifico, Red Cuatro, Radio China International, CCTV China…).

Driven by their shared passion for classical ballet, Katia and Francois’s duo repertoire focuses on transcriptions for four-hand piano of French and Russian ballet masterpieces, from composers such as Bizet, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky or Borodin.

Characterized by an almost symphonic piano writing worthy of the most virtuosic concertos, those programs, as performed by Katia and Francois, make “Pas de Deux” one of the most thrilling and original piano duo.