Artistic director Nicola Giuliano Tuccia writes :
‘The Guido Agosti Piano Series was born from the desire to honour the piano as a poetic, narrative, and profoundly human instrument in collaboration with the Gala Music Festival, chairman Diego Melfi. This concert series brought exceptional performers to the stage of Sala Sangiorgi in Forlì, in an intimate atmosphere full of charm.
Promoted by the association Forlì Cultura – chaired by Nicolò Giuliano Tuccia – and enriched by the vision of Vice President Chiara Bolognesi, who brought her deep sensitivity to education and the arts, this project shines with passion, youth, and musical poetry.
Each concert has been a small artistic miracle, awakening deep emotions in the hearts of the audience.
Giuseppe Lo Cicero enchanted with a brilliant and varied programme: Chopin’s Polonaise brillante with bold energy, the jazzy elegance of Gershwin, the painted delicacy of Debussy’s Ballade, and the dreamy elegance of Ravel’s Valses nobles et sentimentales. A recital that merged virtuosity and charm with natural grace.
Andrei Makarov won the hearts of the audience with his profound and authentic interpretation of Mozart and Chopin. The clarity of his touch and the maturity of his phrasing turned apparent simplicity into pure poetry. A noble pianist with a direct connection to the soul.
Gianluca Faragli tackled a challenging and majestic programme: Ries, Beethoven Op. 22, Chopin’s Scherzo No.1, and the monumental Chaconne by Bach-Busoni. A performance of great dramatic depth and architectural vision, marked by expressive power and commanding presence.
Ekaterina Chebotareva delivered a whirlwind of color and emotion. The fiery spirit of Stravinsky’s Firebird in Agosti’s iconic transcription, the depth of Rachmaninov’s Sonata No.2, the dreamy Estampes by Debussy, and the noble elegance of Beethoven’s Sonata Op.90. An unforgettable evening of passion and sound.
Shunta Morimoto gave us one of the most captivating performances of the series with a high-level program: Bach’s Partita No.4, Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes, and Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantaisie. Impeccable technique, tonal imagination, and a rare narrative sense enchanted the entire audience.
This a link to a newly elaborated audio by Andrea Fasano from the video of op 111 from this concert https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zdb2qjgWnA3HyPph_6FxnxjLHy7APc_f/view?usp=drive_web
Guido Agosti (11 August 1901 – 2 June 1989) was an Italian pianist and renowned for his yearly summer course in Siena frequented by all the major musicians of the age.It was on the express wish of Alfredo Casella that Agosti took over his class which he did for the next thirty years.Sounds heard in his studio have never been forgotten.Agosti was born in Forli 1901. He studied piano with Ferruccio Busoni Bruno Mugellini and Filippo Ivaldi and earning his diploma at age 13. He studied counterpoint under Benvenuti and literature at Bologna University. He commenced his professional career as a pianist in 1921. Although he never entirely abandoned concert-giving, nerves made it difficult for him to appear on stage,and he concentrated on teaching. He taught piano at the Venice Conservatoire and at the Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome.In 1947 he was appointed Professor of piano at the Accademia Chigiana Siena .He also taught at Weimar and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
His notable students include Maria Tipo,Yonty Solomon, Leslie Howard,Hamish Milne,Martin Jones,Ian Munro,Dag Achatz,Raymond Lewenthal,Ursula Oppens,Kun- Woo Paik,Peter Bithell. He made very few recordings; there is a recording of op 110 from the Ghione theatre in Rome together with his recording on his 80th birthday concert in Siena of Debussy preludes .
2024 Season
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 