Sensational indeed as Lisa Peacock said today,and she should know.> The intoxicating sounds that bewitched us surely touched our senses> from the moths,to the boat on the ocean and the bells in the> valley.And we could almost smell them such was his control and> artistry on a very ungrateful piano that had even Graham Johnson> marvelling.After his Alborada we even came out to the interval> clicking our heels,such was his capacity to evoke all the marvellous> things that Ravel had laid before him .A real magician , but also the> devil in disguise as he torpedoed us into Prokofiev’s 6th- one of the> three war sonatas- with a violent energy and massive contrasts-no> orchestra could have> competed with this performance.The layers of sound that he managed > to> create with that ungrateful box of wires and hammers took our breath> away had the audience sitting on the edge of their seats.> But the most magical moment was kept for last .A Bach/Siloti prelude> of such subtle, whispered colouring to almost defy belief that this> was the same instrument and pianist that had bombarded us with> percussive sounds just before.> If in the Beethoven he missed the energy within the silences this > was> the choice of a great musical mind at work – his!> Sensational indeed dear Lisa and thanks to you and the Keyboard > Trust> the stars were shining brightly at the Wigmore last night>>
Categoria: Senza categoria
Articolo di Adele Cambria del Venerdi della Repubblica
Cosa accade a un romantico pianista british
Che cosa può accadere a un romantico pianista british, che si innamora di una
attrice italiana-attrice di teatro e dei primi sceneggiati televisivi- di nome Ileana
Ghione? Si incontrano a Siena nell’estate del 1976, Ileana, già famosa, è sconvolta dal
suicidio del primo marito, una amica, Bianca Galvan, sua compagna all’Accademia Sivio D’Amico, insiste perché esca dall’incubo e l’invita a frequentare insieme a lei un corso di canto che si tiene all’Accademia Chigiana della città toscana…Il pianista british -Chris Axworthy- sarà il loro accompagnatore,e, finito il corso, chiederà ad Ileana di restare ancora qualche giorno insieme in Toscana.Lei é incerta, Bianca la incoraggia e riparte da sola per Roma…”Ma quando Ileana tornò a Roma, andai a salutarla e mi ritrovai davanti due innamorati…”
La coppia si annoda intorno a un progetto: quello che sarà il Teatro Ghione, trasformando un pidocchietto(cinemino rionale in via delle Fornaci, a due passi dal Vaticano) nel primo ed unico teatro del quartiere.”Senza Chris non avrei mai avuto il coraggio di gettarmi in quell’impresa”, ricordo che mi disse Ileana.Era un teatro-bomboniera, tutto foderato di moquette rosso amaranto e con uno splendido palcoscenico. A proposito di moquette, poiché Ileana mi parlava un po’ preoccupata dai costi dell’impresa, io azzardai:”Perché non allestite una caffetteria a cui accedere nell’intervallo dello spettacolo?”E lei, inorridita:”E la mia moquette?”
….Cala il sipario, purtroppo,il 3 dicembre del 2005; Ileana che interpreta l’ Ecuba di Euripide sviene in scena,scusandosi,”mi sento male” ….Chris irrompe sul palcoschenico e la stringe in un lungo bacio quasi a ridarle vita e respiro…Morirà nellla notte all’Ospedale Santo Spirito.
Leggo di lui , raccontato(calunniato, direi) da Rodolfo, l’unico fratello di Ileana(la sorella Yvelise se ne è andata anche lei, non senza accusare Chris Axworthy di ogni sorta di nefandezze): e Rodolfo sceneggia il rogo dei testamenti lasciati da Ileana facendone torce che fiammeggiano nei vasi di bronzo del Teatro…La motivazione di simili insensatezze?” Ileana-sostiene Rodolfo- aveva lasciato tutti i suoi beni al fratello e alla sorella!”Ma il vedovo(” che poi non si sa se abbia mai sposato davvero Ileana”- queste le voci che fecero correre Rodolfo e Yvelise-)avrebbe bruciato i testamenti della moglie!
Testimone oculare della sepoltura della mia amica nella tomba di famiglia al Cimitero di Prima Porta vidi purtroppo all’opera fratello e cognata dell’attrice:seguendo le indicazioni della cognata, la bara fu calata sulla destra, “per lasciare il posto a fianco a mio marito Rodolfo”, declamò la signora. E a questo punto, arrossendo di timidezza, Chris intervenne:”Veramente quel posto è il mio”.
…Sono passati 8 anni dalla morte di Ileana, chiamo Chris, gli invio una mail, mi risponde accorato:”Tu lo sai, Ileana ed io , insieme, abbiamo avuto una vita felice, ma troppo breve, abbiamo regalato alla città di Roma un teatro che è ormai entrato di diritto nella mappa teatrale della Capitale. Eppure eccomi qua, a dormire nel camerino di Ileana…
Quando lei se ne andò, mi è stato suggerita una strategia di dissoluzione della mia stessa esistenza,del nostro felice passato. Mi hanno terrorizzato , dicendomi che il fratello e la sorella di Ileana non mi avrebbero dato tregua, pretendendo di impossessarsi di tutti i nostri beni, e mi hanno persuaso a fare una finta vendita di tutto-il nostro appartamento romano di via Dolci, le due ville di Sabaudia, lo stesso Teatro…La finta vendita dovevo farla ad una società immobiliare, la Ernst e Yang, dalla quale infatti non ebbi una lira,ma mi garantirono-faccio i nomi di queste persone,Calì e Marcaccini, finiti in carcere successivamente per coinvolgimento con la mafia calabrese, e volevano trascinare anche me nei loro loschi affari – un mutuo del Monte Paschi di Siena; ottenuto il quale avrei recuperato il danaro per sostenere il patrimonio immobiliare che l’ultimo testamento di Ileana lasciava unicamente a me.
Dopo otto anni dalla sua morte mi sono ancora ritrovato alla mercè di quella gente. Io sono un pianista british, come dici tu, cosa potevo sapere dei costumi romani?”
Mi tocca dirglielo, come una zia dai capelli bianchi:”Non sai nemmeno che a Roma si chiamano sole?”
“Quando finalmente sono andato a chiedere a quella società immobiliare di restituirmi almeno il danaro che avevo versato anni prima, uno dei due compari, non ancora in carcere, mi ha accompagnato cortesemente al portone, ma appena sono salito sul motorino mi è venuto addosso con la sua moto, mi sono alzato da terra e, di filato, sono andato alla Procura a denunciarlo…”
Intanto, giusto per gradire, Chris si ritrova nello scorso ottobre con la condanna ad un anno di carcere. Il suo avvocato,Professor Pietro Nocita, lo rassicura:”Caro Maestro Lei non può andare in carcere perché la condanna è stata emessa con la sospensione della pena. Che è inoltre coperta da indulto. Il presunto reato non esiste,nella nostra impugnazione-appello chiediamo l’assoluzione. Infatti il testamento non pubblicato(e distrutto da altre persone) era suo favore, e non lasciava alcun bene ai fratelli.
Bisogna vincere e non far finta di vincere noi :comunque abbiamo vinto. Cordiali saluti, Pietro Nocita.”
Si può dar torto al pianista british, che scrivendomi qualche giorno fa, conclude:”Ecco la società italiana dopo Berlusconi…Un paese pure razzista perfino contro un musicista che ha l’unico torto di aver amato l’Italia ed una meravigliosa donna italiana”.Adele Cambria Venerdi della Repubblica
Busoni Debacle- to all those that were fortunate enough not to be present
I was up another mountain at the time of the final- in the Abbruzzo actually,but unfortunately was able to hear the final debacle on the wireless(sic).
Sakiya sounded like E manuel Ax on a very bad day,Leone at least knew he was not ready for the final and had not prepared his Rakhmaninov and my Russian, with Aquila like hands, played like he had looked ( but not until now sounded )- a fish out of water.
The most disgraceful thing was the conductor and the local band ( orchestra is not a term one could use here).I have never heard every entry slowing down like that and the horns and woodwind excrutiatingly out of tune!
Our friends must have been there for the beer,which is the only thing I would have been sorry to miss,but I consider myself the fortunate one that I had a switch that I could detonate ” a piacere”.
Never has anything been more pleasurable!
What should the artistic director do to rectify this situation- is rather a different question.He should do the opposite of everything he is doing now and maybe concentrate on the job in hand.To help and encourage the undoubtable talent that was present and not recognised.
I totally agree about the Algerian/Canadian boy and hope that the Keyboard Trust can give him a helping hand- there were also a couple of Russians too who could also be encouraged.
As I said to a couple not admitted to the final that one might consider that a compliment- amply demonstrated in technovision ,as it turned out.
Surely this farse of not giving out the first prize could be taken to its logical conclusion and not give a prize at all,but maybe have the courage,in these circumstances,to use the money for a period of study and preparation of repertoire,allowing considerable potential to have the time to mature.No wonder they are happy with the KT participation!
Glad you got on well with Bruno Monsaigeon- I wonder who he substituted?- he is really someone who knows and hope he may have discovered via you both, the KT’s remarkable activity.
SERATA D’AMORE PER ILEANA
This was written for the performance that we gave in Rome ,but I think it applies even more to the one we gave in Sperlonga.
The date would have been our 25th wedding anniversary ….the piano was awful-black and white no colours- Schimell with Alfonsi poudly emblazoned on the side!-the little streets outside full of people talking…..I later learned that there were so many people that they had to leave the doors open……..but something magic happened and it was the most moving performance yet…….could Ileana have been present?
She often spoke to Stockhausen (she was the only person he would allow to fotograph him)about the force that we emanate in life and remains after we are gone……..maybe they were right…at least I like to think so,and I think that all those present were aware of some special atmosphere.
Dear Maestro Axworthy ,
I had the pleasure to be present as a spectator for the melologue in the evening dedicated to the immortal Ileana: ”Serate d’Amore “.
The astonishing voice of signora Vukotic transmitted emotions of rare intensity and beauty.A limpid voice never with any signs of tiredness with pure and perfect diction,
faithful to the expressive intensity of the text and to idyllic description of the countryside or in those more suffered in the description of the state of the soul or in the repeating of the spoken words.
The voice and the magnificent and memorable interpretation offered to us public,was a moving garland in memory of that other great master that was Ileana.
To you that had to follow the voice and recitation, that gave support with a fascinating music,almost exchanging the music and the word in the shere musicality of the piano,
I feel I must direct a thought of thanks to you and gratefulness for the highest example of humility much more eloquent when given by a person of such rich talent, and the love for your wife that take the breath away.
I am still so moved,that while I am encouraged to send this testimony of my great feeling to you,I can not write any more.
I beg you therefore to accept this sense of my utter devotion and my encouragement to continue to share your life’s work with us.
Because Ileana is still with us
A long time season ticket holder
Egr. Maestro Axworthy,
ho avuto il piacere di assistere ieri sera al melologo quale spettatore di una delle Serate d’Amore per la immortale Ileana.
La stupefacente voce recitante della signora Vukotic ha trasmesso emozioni di rara intensità e bellezza. Una voce limpida, mai offuscata da segni di stanchezza, pura nella dizione perfetta, aderente nella intensità espressiva al testo nei momenti idilliaci delle descrizioni del paesaggio o in quelli più sofferti della descrizione degli stati d’animo o nella ripresa dei dialoghi. Voce e recitazione hanno dato prova di un magistero interpretativo memorabile e consegnato a noi spettatori un gaudio commosso nel ricordo di quell’altro altissimo magistero che fu la Ileana.
A lei che a tanta dovizia di voce e recitazione ha dato il supporto di una musica fascinosa, quasi trasfigurazione della musica della parola nella musicalità del piano, sento di dover rivolgere un pensiero riconoscente e grato per l’altissimo esempio di umiltà tanto più eloquente quanto più dato da una personalità ricca di talento e traboccante Amore per la sua Sposa.
La mia commozione ancora perdurante, mentre mi spinge a rivolgermi per testimoniarle il mio affetto, mi impedisce tuttavia di continuare.
La prego pertanto di accogliere i sensi della mia devozione a lei e il mio incoraggiamento alla sua opera di diffusione.
Perchè Ileana viva.
Manlio Mirabile, abbonato storico
Manlio Mirabile
European Commission’ Advisor Centro Sviluppo Materiali
Via di Castel Romano 100
00129 Roma
fm.mirabile@virgilio.it mobile: +39 392 5645657
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SAD NEWS FOR OUR DEAREST FRIENDS-LETTER SENT IN DICEMBER 2005 WHICH EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED SO UNEXPECTEDLY
Please forgive my writing a general letter like this but I have been inundated by people who wanted to express their love for Ileana- who died on the operating table on Saturday 3 December having been taken ill on stage on Friday evening.
Apparently a weakness in the aorta that she was born with but completely unaware of gave out during the first part of Hecuba,leaving her without the strength to continue.The doctor in the house suggested we go to the next door hospital to have it checked out.We drove
there in our car and the electocardiogram test was perfect but after the scan (tak) che was immediately rushed to a specialist hospital for an emergency operation to try to save her life.After almost seven hours she died on the operating table.We had time beforehand to talk and she was quite serene.She realised that it was very serious and made a great declaration of love to me that stopped the hospital.She said she has done everything she wanted to in her life and had also known the great love of her life.She said it was like Manon Lescaut and gave me a huge kiss before going into the operating theatre.We have been very lucky to have had so much for so long-I just wish it could have lasted a little longer.
Ileana always wanted me if she died to announce it after she had been buried,unfortunately the mass media got hold of it and there was such an overwhelming exibition of love for her that thousands of people appeared at all times of day and night wanting to express their loss.
Luckily I have so much to do in the theatre and looking after all Ileanas projects that I hope being busy will help with the loss of half of me.Ileana was not only my wife but my companion,best friend – just everything for almost 30 years,so I don’t expect it to be easy- but I will certainly try to keep the theatre going even if the motor has now gone.
I hope to be in touch with you all individually but just wanted you to know what had happened so unexpectedly.
Much love to you from Chris
Pontine Festival Latina Italy
THE HILLS OF ROME ARE RESOUNDING TO THE SOUND OF MUSIC
One of Italy’s best kept secrets is to be found in the mediaeval town of Sermoneta, just 50 kilometres from Rome. Whilst the coastal towns Sabaudia, S. Felice Circeo, Terracina, Sperlonga have long been attracting crowds to their wonderful beaches, Sermoneta has been quietly attracting the greatest musicians of our time to the fairy tale Caetani Castle. Here, in fact, is to be found one of the most important festivals of classical music. On a level only with Festivals like Tanglewood, Marlboro, Dartington or Salzburg.
Once, whilst Count Chigi was still alive, only the Accademia Chigiana in Siena could boast a line up of the greatest artists of the day: Cortot, Casals, Ferrara, Agosti, Casella, Milstein, Gulli, Giulini, ready not only to play, but also to pass on their experience in master classes to talented young musicians.
Since 1963 the Caetani family, like Count Chigi before in Siena, have been inviting musicians of the calibre of Menuhin, Szigeti, Magaloff, Kempff, Navarra, Ciccolini, Sandor Vegh, to their Castle just south of Rome, and it is this year that we celebrate the 45th anniversary.
Lelia Caetani, the last living member of the family, who died in 1977, had created a Foundation to perpetuate the name of her composer father Roffredo Caetani. Franz Liszt, godfather to Roffredo, attended his baptism in 1871 and in fact Liszt’s piano is still to be found in Ninfa, the wonderful gardens created by Lelia, surrounding Sermoneta. These are the gardens that the great composer Sir William Walton and his wife Susanna so admired and often visited, before opening their own famous gardens of La Mortella on Ischia.
In fact there is so much history linked to this town, but there is also a wonderful future ahead too, if we look at how the musical activities have progressed since the death of Lelia Caetani and Hubert Howard, her husband, descendant of the noble English family of that name.
Riccardo Cerocchi, architect, has since the 70’s carried forward, in an elightened way, the initial start of the Caetani’s, creating the Campus Musicale with the great composer Goffredo Petrassi, president for many years until his death. Bruno Canino, Franco Petracchi, Bruno Giuranna, Rocco Filippini and some of the finest Italian musicians are on the advisory board, ready to ensure the integrity and continuing importance of the concerts, master classes and conferences.
Two young musicians, products one could say of Sermoneta, have been invited onto the board and already their presence is being felt along with the more established members.
Roberto Prosseda, fast establishing himself as one of Italy’s finest pianists, pupil of Sergio Cafaro; and Fabrizio von Arx, pupil of Corrado Romano, are both to be found organising and playing in this years festival.
In fact, the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in the opening concert with von Arx was a model of great musicianship and virtuosity (I think one could tell the influence of Franco Gulli, with whom he perfected his studies in the USA), as was the open rehearsal the next morning with both von Arx and Prosseda in the double Concerto by Mendelssohn, conducted by Jan Latham Koenig with the Young Janacek Philharmonic.
This year Mendelssohn takes pride of place to celebrate the 200th anniversary of this much neglected composer, favourite at the court of Queen Victoria. It is also thanks to Mendelssohn that many of the great works of Bach are known today. By a strange irony, many of Mendelssohn’s works are rarely heard these days and there is also a vast collection of fragments, only recently discovered, left by Mendelssohn which is the basis of a series of debates and concerts organised by Prosseda (who recently recorded the 3rd Piano Concerto ,reconstructed from fragments by Bufalini, with Riccardo Chailly and Mendelssohn’s Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig). These debates have always formed an important part of the work of the Campus and this year it is based on Restoration in Music, with particular reference to the many unfinished works of Mendelssohn.
Also on the programme this year is a first performance of the Variations for cello and piano reconstructed (the cello part was missing but the piano part was complete) by Gabrio Taglietti. Steven Isserlis, the great English cellist, will be in Sermoneta for the first time to play them with Roberto Prosseda. Isserlis will be performing the day before at the Cheltenham Festival in England as Angela Hewitt, the great Bach pianist who will be playing for the first time in Sermoneta too and playing in Cheltenham the day after: a great coincidence, as the Cheltenham Festival was also founded by Menuhin, one of the founder members of Sermoneta – small world.
Master classes and concerts with the great Russian pianist, so admired by Richter, Elissò Virsaladze also with Richard Stolzman, considered by many to be the finest clarinet player today, and many others complete the programme not only in Sermoneta but also in the Cistercian Abbey at Fossanova, where Tommaso d’Aquino died in 1274, as well as the beautifully restored courtyard of the church of S. Oliva at Cori.
Sperlonga will see a special concert dedicated to Ileana Ghione (founder of the famous Ghione Theatre in Rome,with a long and important musical tradition) when Milena Vukotic will perform the Melologue by Richard Strauss based on the famous Victorian poem Enoch Arden by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
What better way to celebrate the first 45 years than to know that closer links between The Caetani Foundation and the Campus are being forged to ensure that this important musical activity will continue and grow in the future.
I hope we have not let the cat out of the bag to tell you about Sermoneta but you can rest assured that who ventures here will find the simplest most genuine welcome where above all the message that music has to offer rises above all the razzmatazz and divaism that we have almost come to expect from our lives ruled as they are by the mass media.
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 