This unique and attractive husband-wife team has circled the globe, in live performances and through critically-acclaimed compact discs. Classical artists, their Wigmore Hall (London) debut was praised for the brilliance of the modern repertoire. In less formal settings, the duo is able to present programs which display elements of artistry, humor, daring, and delight. Spoleto critics have found their work "dazzling" and "impressive." Their on-stage repartee is both sophisticated and ingenious.

With a motto of "life is short, play the encores first," concerts are hailed as entertaining, but without sacrificing artistic integrity. They are favorites of festival crowds such as Spoleto and Interlochen (MI), returning many times to the same venues. Recent trips have taken them to concert series in Hamilton, Bermuda; a festival of new works in the Chopin Academy, Warsaw; the South Carolina Festival of Flowers Pops Concert; and a concert of wide-ranging variety (with commentary in Italian!) at the Centro Asteria in Milan.

Trained as classical artists, they did not perform duets until arriving in Florence, Italy for study following one wedding and two masters' degrees in performance. As most of their presenters know, Tony's grandfather was Vincent Rose, who wrote "Avalon" with Al Jolsen. In 1940, Grandpa Rose penned "Blueberry Hill" covered by New Orleans legend Fats Domino some twenty years later.

With a colorful legacy on both sides of the family (artists, musicians, sculptors, an historian, geologist, ballroom dance instructor, jazz band arranger) coupled with broad tastes, Tony and Marianne explored adding popular arrangements to selected concerts. Tony worked at arranging "Avalon," "Blueberry Hill," "Linger Awhile," "The Umbrella Man," and "Whispering," all by Grandpa Vincent Rose.

After their sons left home for college, Tony also arranged Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and favorite solo works by Rachmaninov and Chopin. In preparation for the fourth CD, the couple added arrangements of film scores, Broadway favorites, and jazz standards.

The Lentis first gained acclaim in recordings of unknown piano duets they researched around the world. (Click on CD Sales). Research on Gershwin inspired the third CD (designed by son Joey Lenti). The fourth CD is "I Found My Thrill," released in 2003. Their son John is the resident artistic and repertory advisor, and he does not pull his punches in regards to balance and pedaling.

Tony and Marianne convey a masterful artistic grasp of their repertory, which has expanded the piano duet medium for generations to come. Their scholarship does not dampen a charming sense of humor, daring technical challenges, nor an innate ability to relate to the audience seated before them, whether in a venerable British hall or in a small, standing-room-only church in Charleston, SC.