Ever since Khatia Buniatishvili gave her German début in 2009 at the Ruhr Piano Festival, she has returned year after year to delight us with her unique stage presence and musical versatility. She also loves performing with chamber music partners. For her 14th appearance at the Festival, Khatia is bringing a new duo partner: young pianist Sodi Braide, who, the son of Nigerian parents, grew up in Dublin, studied in Paris and Madrid, and won prizes at a number of international competitions, including the Leeds and the Van Cliburn. The press has written that Braide has “an inborn sensitivity for tone color and melody,” and that he is a “natural storyteller”; he is thus the ideal piano duo partner for Khatia Buniatishvili!