Autore: ChristopherAxworthyMusicCommentary

Ultimo aggiornamento: 4 minuti fa

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Last night at Ostia Antica in Rome .Giorgio Albertazzi’s memorable interpretation of Marguerite Yourcenar’s Memorie di Adriano.

Remarkable ” tour de force” by what must surely be one of the greatest actors of the age,Now unbelievably in his 92 year ,Over an hour on stage in what is the essence of Yourcenars famous story of Adriano.

In fact you could say that Albertazzi is Adriano so intense and concentrated is his one man performance it draws the public in to his almost intimate confessions.

Accompanied only by some very atmospheric sounds mainly fomr Evelyn Megnaghi and with the regal presence of Stefania Masala and another two actors Albertazzi held the stage alone for over an hour.A veritable feat of memory but also of comunication … this is the real art of an actor and what a lesson he gave all those fortunate enough to have been present in this magical setting.

Even the ” Gods” were silenced by il Maestro for the rain storm that delayed the start of the performance was abaited right until the very last line when the heavens opened up again..When Albertazzi speaks even the Gods must listen

Ultimo aggiornamento: circa 2 mesi fa

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From the heart to the heart you could say .

Beautiful recital by last night .Three big works magnificently played.The Rachmaninov Sonata ,in particular,played with realconviction and almost without the score it was so much part of them ………and led on to a wonderful Chopin Polonaise where Jamal abandoned the score completely and they were in their element.As Barbirolli once said about Jaqueline du Pre, sometimes criticised for playing with too much passion and warmth but how he loved it for he said if you don’t play like that in your youth what will be pared down later.

Oh what it is to be young and so talented and lets hope that they will go a long way together ……Anna even had a heart shaped neckless just incase we had not noticed!

Ultimo aggiornamento: circa 5 mesi fa

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Extraordinary recital…………..from the first note to the last ……maybe the Bach too much non legato but the beauty of sound and perfection of musical thought were to be treasured ,The Chopin Funeral March Sonata and the 3rd Scherzo were treated as the master works they are.The recapitulation in the first movement of the sonata remarkably original and made one want to re look at the score ……it was that sort of musical event.La Valse was and extraordinary showcase for all her finesse ,colours,virtuosity and above all sense of line. The Chopin prelude op 28 n.13 was simply divine ……………Welcome to London Miss Rana we need you ……………

Ultimo aggiornamento: circa un mese fa

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What a treat the other day after gazing at the most marvellous Caravaggios in S.Luigi Francesi and S Agostino there in the Sala Accademica next door in the Pontificio Istituto della Musica Sacra was the most amazing recital of Cuban music for the 80th anniversary of relations between the Republic of Cuba and the Vatican .All this on the very afternoon that President Obama was to declare in America the official re-opening of relations between America and Cuba.

Amazing virtuoso piano pieces all based on typical dance rhythms had us all not only clicking our heels but admiring the absolute control of the pianist.

A magnificent Fazioli concert grand rather too bright to be able to savour the subtlety of colour and the amazing independence between the hands .All abundantly clear on the magnificent instrument used for the recording that has just been released for Academy recordings .And after this treat another one at Prof Franco Carlo Ricciprivate gathering of friends with Michelangelo Carbonaraoffering a much more sober programme of Beethoven Liszt and Brahms ……all superbly played on a 1890 Pleyel .Both Marcos and Michelangelo helped by the Keyboard Charitable Trust and more interestingly students of William Grant Nabore at the International Piano Academy Lake Como .Even more interesting was that that very night Dmitry Masleev,also a student of Nabore was declared Gold medal winner of the Tchaikowsky Competition in Moscow.A night to remember you might say and what a way to start the merry month of July,

Ultimo aggiornamento: 12 minuti fa

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What a way to end this 51st festival .

A stunning performance of Mendelssohns Double concerto for violin and piano performed by Roberto Prosseda and Fabrizio von Arx with the Camerata du Leman brought to an end the 51st Pontine Festival.

Roberto Prosedda a complete musican from the school of Sergio Cafaro and Fabrizio von Arx from the school of Corrado Romano .Both spending much of their youth in Sermoneta and so formed in this remarkable summer school founded by Menuhin and Szigeti in the 1960’s . The virtuoso demands met in full by Roberto with that beautiful cantabile that was so evident in his performance the day before of the Emperor Concerto by Beethoven.Fabrizio von Arx showing all his latin blood in the lush melodies of this rarely heard concerto.By great demand a scintilating virtuoso encore of Bazzinis La Ronde de Lutins had a smile on Robertos face,and us too, as he tried to keep up with Fabrizios tracendental virtuosity.The very fine Camerata du Leman followed them with all the verve and energy that they had shown in a very refined performance of Corelli’s Concerto Grosso op 6 n.4 and an energetic performance of Mendelssohns early 2nd Symphony for strings .Quite a nostalgic night as it recalled my student days in Dartington,that other great summer school, when the Academy of St Martin in the Field under Neville Marriner would regale us with these early string works of Mendelssohn.Very honoured to have the presence of Arch.Cerocchi President since the 1970’s of the Pontine Festival and also responsable for the transformation of the old granary into one of the most beautiful concert halls in the beautiful cistercian complex of the Fossanova Abbey

Ultimo aggiornamento: Domenica

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Amazingly the first piano recital ever in Sabaudia the other night thanks to the Pontine Festival and their annual collaboration with The Keyboard Charitable Trust.

Here in the enclosed courtyard of the town hall was a wonderful Steinway D piano and amazingly completely sold out .In fact the doors were shut as the tickets finished .

And what a treat there was in store for us from Vitaly Pisarenko – bringing his recent Prize winners Wigmore recital programme to this seaside town created by Mussolini in the 30’s in what were originally malarial swamps .

Bringing Venetians down to this area between Roma and Naples to drain the land and turn it into the most fertile land around to produce all the fruit and vegetables for these two great cities.Towns created in record tempo by Mussolini all in the same rationalist architecture.

Little could anyone have imagined the remarkable acoustic in this enclosed space in the midst of all the excited holiday crowds only seeking entertainment after a day spent on the 25 km stretch of white beach all in a National Park protected by the World Wildlife Fund.

Could the people have ever imagined that in their midst was one of the most exciting talents around.A rapt silence during the performances greeted only by an ovation at the end of Vitalys remarkable performance of Prokofiev 6th Sonata .

Starting with the Bach/Siloti Prelude in B minor showing right from the start all his remarkable control of sound – infact a sound world all his own .

Followed by a Pathetique Sonata all his own .An original performance of such a well known work but such is the musicianship of this young Russian pianist that he can still surprise us in a piece we have all known so well for years ,Three Etude Tableaux played as only someone with this music in his blood could play it and so on to his own renowned account of Prokofiev.

Here were all the colours of a Symphony Orchestra that only a master could reveal on an ungrateful box of strings and hammers.

The local administration that had thought the seaside crowds just wanted some popular light hearted entertainment after the beach were here proven wrong.As this discerning public, after this remarkable and not easy concert, were craving for more

Lets hope that the local and now enlightened administration will heed this message brought from the 51st Pontine Festival and create a real series of concerts for next year in this now proven magnificent setting.A series of young lions from the Keyboard Chartable Trust to give a platform to these amazing young talents that are only craving to share their goods with such an attentive audience.Little could the people have imagined that some of the most legendary musicians have been on their seashore such as Cherkassky,Agosti,Tortelier,Tureck,Sandor,Berman ,Hewitt,Petrassi,De Peyer >All visitors to Ileana Ghione’s house over the years,having performed in what now is termed the” Historic” Teatro Ghione created by Ileana Ghione and her husband in1982 .What a fitting setting for the tenth anniversary of her death on the very day that would have been her 31st wedding anniversary

Ultimo aggiornamento: circa una settimana fa

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A few years ago Maude Tortelier asked me if I knew what ” peso” meant

…………………I certainly do ..

.It is that undefinable quality that comes with total technical assurance combined with an innate musicality that gives to each note a weight and meaning.

And so it was tonight at Fossanova with Mariana Sirbu and Bruno Giuranna .The veteran Giuranna ,that I remember from the glorious days in Siena with Riccardo Brengola,Guido Agosti,Franco Ferrara and Salvatore Accardo ,playing here without the score – something so rare these days in Sonata duos – but gave an immediate sense of musical comunion between the music and the audience .If his right arm is not as strong as it used to be the depth and warmth of his musicianship were of someone that has lived with this wonderful music for a lifetime.

Ending with the Trio op 40 here was chamber music on a truly sublime level The majesterial violin playing of la Sirbu intertwined with the warmth of Giurannas viola and the truly beautiful sounds from Linda di Carlo on the piano.This is surely what the Pontine Festival is all about, from its creation by Menuhin and Szigeti, of a real feeling of great musicians meeting to make music.It is not for nothing that the Pontine Festival has been likened to Marlborough or Prades ….lets hope that this glorious tradition will continue for many a year to come .

Ultimo aggiornamento: 8 ore fa

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Beautiful voice in this song recital in the splendid Granary in Fossanova.I think it must be the first song recital there and certainly deserved a larger audience.

Hampered by the ever present score on a music stand the voice was never allowed the freedom to comunicate as it was with a Schwarzkopf or Berganza.Surely the whole point of a song recital is to tease,entice and play with the audience …to bring them into an intimate relationship that was not always possible with the stand between us .However a wonderful rich voice and some beautiful playing from Luisa Prayer,who also introduced the programme.Luisa from the school of Cafaro like Roberto Prosedda …real musicians that would never fail to comunicate the real essence of the music .Often reminded of Sergio Cafaro a really great musician ,who often played in my theatre in Rome.He also collected insects and gave me some of his remarkable pastel paintings.A real romantic man from another age and nice to be reminded of him via his inheritance to his pupils.An important audience for a recording that was being made.Gisella Belgeri – she too and ex studentl of Guido Agosti – now an important figure on the official government musical scene and overseeing the recording.It was she ,a dear friend, who hunted me out last november to tell me of the death of Lydia Stix Agosti ,at the age of 95.One of the most remarkable people that we have ever met and the principal reason that I came to live in Italy.All in all a very moving evening