Another beautiful tribute from a mother to her daughter in Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati.
The distinguished French pianist Marylene Mouquet dedicates a special Christmas concert to her daughter Patrizia every year after her tragic death in a road accident exactly nineteen years ago on this day the 10th December.

Marylene Mouquet at Villa Grazioli for the Michelangeli Association in celebration of Beethoven

Christmas comes to Frascati The gift of music illuminates the city.

This year a chamber music concert with works for violin and piano by Mozart and Brahms .A trio by Mendelssohn with viola instead of cello and lieder by Dvorak and Brahms (with piano and cello).

David Greiner was the splendid baritone of great presence and very clear diction.He was helped in the Canti Biblici op 99 by the very sensitive playing of Marina Cesarale.

For the Brahms op 91 Jingbo Wang added the beauty of his cello to the lusicious beauty of the voice.

This lead so naturally into the last of Brahms violin Sonatas n.3 in Dminor op 108 where Alina Maria Taslavan and Luigi Di Domenicantonio found their voice together in a passionate and moving account of this sonata.Playing with the lid full open of the Steinway – that I know very well from my concerts here with the much missed Lya De Barberiis.-he managed to create an almost orchestral sound without ever overpowering the ravishing beauty of Alina’s sumptuous playing.They had opened with the Sonata K.377 where the balance was very much weighed in the favour of the piano and rather overpowered the refine subtle tones that Alina brought to their duo.

A very interesting trio by Mendelssohn with a viola in place of the usual cello for a piano trio.This obviously early work was played with great style with all three musician blending into one magnificent whole.Problems of balance with the piano vanished as these three young players allowed the music to pour from their souls ,united with vitality ,passion and technical brilliance.

A moment of beauty and reflection from six fine artists whilst the world outside waits to celebrate Christmas.

Sunday April 28th the return of 19 year old piano genius Shunta Morimoto.

Shunta Morimoto – A colossus bestrides Villa Aldobrandini as it had when Liszt was in residence – complete review with Tokyo link to Schumann op 13