Keys for Life - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Commissioned by Jayson Gillham and Iyad Sughayer for this dynamic program, the Lebanese composer Houtaf Khoury’s “Isolated” reflects the daily challenges and uncertainties of living in a warzone but, as he writes “there is always a way to get out from the tunnel.”

Beside the music of two Russian heavyweights sits the charming early “Petite Suite” by the French master Claude Debussy and this unique recital ends with a rousing rendition of his compatriot Emmanuel Chabrier’s “España”. 

Such is the lively nature of this piece, when Chabrier played his new piece to Pierre-Auguste Renoir, he broke several strings on the famous Impressionist painter’s piano, hence it seems fitting he eventually orchestrated his original two-piano score. 

Recorded live in concert at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, Narrm/Melbourne, on July 19, 2026 by ABC Classic. Producer Duncan Yardley. Engineer Adeniyi Adepoyibi.

Claude Debussy: Petite Suite (for four hands), CD 71Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K. 488Maurice Ravel: Introduction and Allegro, M 46Aram Khachaturian: Three Pieces for Two PianosHoutaf Khoury: Isolated (for two pianos)Anton Arensky: Suite No. 1 for Two Pianos, Op. 15Emmanuel Chabrier: España (for two pianos)Maurice Ravel: Mother Goose Suite: V. The Fairy Garden