Hammertime Duo: Olga Matieva & Nikolai Martynov

“Hammertime Duo”

“Hammertime Duo” is an ensemble exploring the keyboard duo concept as wide as possible. Its’ repertoire lies from Mozart and Dussek to Lutoslawski and Pletnev, and being performed on forte and modern piano(s) in various halls, such as Zaryadye chamber hall and Rachmaninov hall in Moscow, Philharmonia of Bialystok, Sweelinckzaal of Conservatory of Amsterdam and Bullekerk Cultureel Centrum in Zaandam.

Formed by Olga Matieva and Nikolai Martynov during their studying piano, fortepiano and harpsichord at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, the ensemble started with usual piano duo repertoire. But a few months later an experiment with performing on fortepiano has discovered the way that the duo keeps exploring now…

The name of the duo comes from the mechanics of fortepianos and pianos (where so-called “hammers” are so necessary) and repertoire for these instruments that keeps growing since the 18th century. Passionate about discovering rare pieces, relevance of period instruments’ sound and marvellous opportunities that this gives, the duo “Hammertime” graduated from S. Kasprov, O. Martynova and O. Filippova classes cum laude, and now continues education at Conservatory of Amsterdam with Olga Pashchenko.