“This album is much more than a calling card. It introduces a new group into the particularly selective circuit of groups that matter” Classica
“The two young women in Duo Jatekok have it all: dynamic precision and expressive vigour, exuberance on the keyboard and a multilingual touch, and most of all, a kind of jubilant harmony” Le Monde
Naïri Badal and Adélaïde Panaget, inventive and passionate pianists, have formed the Duo Jatekok since 2007, a name meaning “game” in Hungarian, which has become their trademark. Their synergy, contagious energy, and expressiveness have allowed them to establish themselves as a unique duo on both French and international stages. Trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMD) under the guidance of Claire Désert and Ami Flammer, they also perfected their skills at the Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth in Belgium, in the class of the Artemis Quartet.
Since their beginnings, they have won several prestigious awards, including those in Rome (2011) and Ghent (2013), before embarking on an international career. They regularly perform as soloists or with orchestras at prestigious venues such as the Festival de la Roque d’Anthéron, the Théâtre du Châtelet, La Seine Musicale in Paris, the Flagey and Bozar halls in Brussels, the Auditorium du Louvre, as well as the Opéra de Tours, the Folle Journée de Nantes, the Philharmonie de Shenzhen, the Concert Hall in Hong Kong, and Guatemala, among others.
In 2015, they released their first album Danses on Mirare, followed by The Boys in 2018 on Alpha Classic. These albums have been widely praised by critics and reflect their dynamism and originality. The Duo Jatekok continues to explore new musical horizons, collaborating with artists such as Marina Sosnina and Hoi Chiu (sand art), Julien Cottereau (mime-sound effects), and the Rêvolution company (hip hop). Their openness to crossover music led them to perform as the opening act for the German metal band Rammstein during their European tour in 2019 and to record an album Duo Jatekok plays Rammstein with Universal.
Since 2021, they have staged a show with Alex Vizorek, where together they revisit Le Carnaval des Animaux by Saint-Saëns. In June 2021, they recorded an album Carnaval des Animaux – Double Concerto by Poulenc with the Orchestre National de Lille and Lucie Leguay. The program was highly praised by critics: “Suddenly, the well-worn works of Saint-Saëns reveal themselves to be as sparkling as the vivid colors of the brilliant Poulenc concerto, the perfect complement in this winning bet” (Pianiste Magazine).
In November 2024, the duo will release a new album Sorcellerie, featuring works by Liszt, De Falla, Dujas, and Mussorgsky. Building on this album, the duo will create a concert program of the same name, blending music, shadows, and magic. This program offers fresh perspectives on how to approach classical repertoire.
Naïri Badal and Adélaïde Panaget have won over an audience that appreciates their sincerity, their complicity, and their talent. Jatekok: playing the piano, with the piano, four hands, two pianos, classical, contemporary, with the public, with other musicians, other artists. Playing is the essence of their duo.
