Giovanni Bertolazzi ,in my opinion the finest pianist of his generation,on tour in the USA for the Keyboard Trust ………starting in the beautiful theatre that Lorin Maazel create on his estate in Virginia on my birthday 15th October and proceeding to Washington 17th ;Philadelphia 18th;Delaware. 20th ;New York 21st.

October 15 – The Castleton Festival welcomes Italian pianist, Giovanni Bertolazzi, to its 2023-24 season, as it continues its partnership with the Keyboard Charitable Trust Foundation.

‘Giovanni is absolutely phenomenal!!!

He is not only technically ‘ridiculous’ (as my grandson called it), but he takes you on a journey as a narrator, he means every phrase he puts out. This is what Lorin used to call “conversational playing”.

If I was a fancy reviewer for the NYTimes, I would call Giovanni a combination of Emanuel Ax, Svatoslav Richter, and Alexis Weissenberg…

And what a sweet personality – no vanity, just super focused on what he is doing, otherwise completely unassuming (but so bright and informed about the world, etc!).

I could ramble/rave on and on … 

We had a nice, nearly full house, composed of mostly connoisseurs or new converts, and they were blown away! 

Thank you and John and Noretta for sending him to us!

What a treat for us and our audience!’

Dietlinde Maazel-Wood

Comment from Marja about Giovanni’s recital today in Philadelphia: “I was so excited about his playing and selling his CDs afterwards that I forgot to take pics! His playing was superb, always with rich tone, amazing clarity and gorgeous voicing. The standing ovation at the end was well deserved!”

And from Gloria in DC: “The repeated comment I’m hearing is that they’ve never heard a better pianist! It’s breaking my heart to have missed him! All said though I’m ecstatic it went so well and was so well received.”

Private live stream recording of the concert in Delaware on the 20th october that I am happy to leave the moving introduction by Helen Foss about the founders of the Keyboard Trust .https:https://youtu.be/Sv5KJMerqTE?si=uS-VHSKtJsgWQUBx

https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2023/06/06/giovanni-bertolazzi-liberal-club-en-blanc-et-noir-5th-june-2023-a-star-is-born/
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2023/04/15/giovanni-bertolazzi-at-the-quirinale-a-kaleidoscope-of-ravishing-sounds-that-astonish-and-seduce-for-the-genius-of-liszt/
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2022/12/04/giovanni-bertolazzi-the-mastery-and-authority-of-liszt/
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2022/02/15/giovanni-bertolazzi-in-london/

Previous USA tours : https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2022/10/22/jonathan-ferrucci-kct-american-tour-goldberg-a-voyage-of-discovery/
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2018/10/18/chloe-jiyeong-mun-and-the-big-apple-parts-12-and-3/
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2017/05/28/emanuel-rimoldi-us-tour-for-the-keyboard-charitable-trust-2/

Celebrating its 32nd Anniversary, the Keyboard Trust identifies today’s most promising young keyboard talent and enables them to perform in many of the most important music centres in Europe and the Americas.

Giovanni Bertolazzi won the 2nd Prize at the “Franz Liszt” International Piano Competition in Budapest (2021), along with five other special awards.

Born in Verona in 1998, Giovanni earned his Bachelor’s Degree from “B. Marcello” Conservatory of Music in Venice and then decided to continue his piano studies with Epifanio Comis at “V. Bellini” State Institute of Music in Catania, where he obtained his Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and in Chamber Music with top honours.

During his studies, he also attended several piano masterclasses held by distinguished pianists and pedagogues such as Lily Dorfman, Joaquín Achúcarro, Matti Raekallio, Boris Berezovsky, Stephen Kovacevich and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.

In New York on 21st October 2023

Live stream recording from New York 21st October 2023 https://www.youtube.com/live/v2TanaXQ6IU?si=fGoipL67-3svyuk

‘He’s playing now and it’s perhaps the best Liszt I’ve heard in concert since Arrau

Amazing polyphony and bass lines, huge sound without ever banging , no dead spots whatsoever!!!! Wow!!!!’ Jed Distler New York

Dear lovely Keyboard Trust Friends

Renewed thanks for ALL your hard work and amazing organisation in making Giovanni’s tour in October such a huge success!  He loved every moment and has just written about his trip:

 

I always feel privileged when I’m able to express myself surrounded by wonderful people, so I’m immensely grateful for who I met and for their warm hospitality. A true pleasure to share the universal language of music with this new audience. I also found it particularly inspiring to perform in different cities and learn more about various aspects of the American culture. It has been an honour to tour the US in the name of the Keyboard Charitable Trust. I send you my warmest regards, Giovanni Bertolazzi. +39 3775329329. www.giovannibertolazzi.com