Ariel Lutnkesky

Dueling pianists to throw down at Popejoy

On Friday, virtuoso pianists Paul Cibis and Andreas Kern will tickle the ivories in a “Piano Battle” at Popejoy Hall. According to Cibis, the Piano Battle is a duel between the two pianists that lasts six rounds. At the end, the audience gets to decide who won. Instead of exchanging blows, the pianists strive to outdo each other with their musical skills. Cibis said that Piano Battle all started when the two were called to play together in a place many miles from where they will be on Friday. “We both were invited to a Hong Kong city festival, and then they thought because we are both German and from Berlin, maybe we could play a concert together,” Cibis said.