“Novecento Suite” is the title chosen for the 59th edition of the Brescia and Bergamo International Piano Festival, reflecting the multitude of voices that shaped the first half of the 20th century.
Fondazione Pesenti—which has supported this important and internationally acclaimed event for many years—once again confirms its commitment to safeguarding and promoting cultural and artistic richness, with a special focus on supporting younger generations.
After a monographic edition dedicated to the genius of Chopin, this year’s Festival embarks on a musical journey featuring composers such as Ravel, Rachmaninov, Debussy, and Gershwin, as well as Bartók, Stravinsky, and many others. Audiences will enjoy famous pieces such as Ravel’s Concerto in G Major and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, along with works being performed at the Festival for the first time, including Britten’s brilliant and witty piano concerto.
Many of the works presented this year were composed between the end of the First World War and the beginning of the Second—a period of remarkable musical vitality. Music from this era seems to respond to the aftermath of the Great War with renewed energy, drawing inspiration from jazz, popular dance music of the time, and, interestingly, the past. While Debussy and Ravel reinterpreted the great French harpsichordists and Stravinsky rediscovered Pergolesi, Respighi revisited Gregorian chant and the Italian harpsichord tradition.
Agostino Orizio: 100 Years of Music
The Festival also commemorates a deeply felt anniversary: the centenary of founder Agostino Orizio’s birth. A great artist and visionary organizer, Orizio led the Festival for over 40 years. As early as 1964, he had already envisioned the potential of a joint cultural initiative between the two cities. Two major concerts open this year’s programme in his honor: on April 19, a concert with Martha Argerich, and on April 20, a recital by Arcadi Volodos at the Donizetti Theatre in Bergamo. The calendar of centenary events can be found in the Projects and Initiatives section.
The 59th edition
The opening concert—April 28 in Bergamo and April 29 in Brescia—draws heavily on 20th-century themes, with a programme featuring three piano concertos. Two pianists, both long-time favorites of the Festival, will take the stage under the baton of Pier Carlo Orizio with the Festival Philharmonic Orchestra. Alessandro Taverna will perform Britten’s Piano Concerto, while Alexander Romanovsky will take on Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43. Dulcis in fundo, the evening will close with Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos, returning to the Festival stage after a 20-year absence.
Highly anticipated is the debut of the great Hélène Grimaud, a long-time protégé of Claudio Abbado, who will perform for the first time at Teatro Grande on May 29 and at the Donizetti on May 31. Her programme includes works by Silvestrov, Chopin, Satie, Debussy, and Schumann. Among the rising stars, French pianist Lucas Debargue, who left a mark at the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition with his Ravel performance, will appear on May 18 in Bergamo and the following day in Brescia, playing Scarlatti and Ravel. Grigory Sokolov will also return to both cities with a programme dedicated to Beethoven and Schumann.
In the Festival’s final segment, the Orchestra della Toscana returns to Brescia (June 4) and Bergamo (June 5), presenting two cornerstone works of early 20th-century music: Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major featuring soloist Federico Colli, and Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony.
Also featured are the recitals by François-Joël Thiollier, who will perform an all-Gershwin programme in Bergamo’s former Church of Sant’Agostino and at Brescia’s S. Barnaba Auditorium.
Young Pianist Debuts
Three young pianists will make their Festival debuts this year:
Alexander Gadjiev, who brought Italy to the podium at the latest Chopin Competition, will perform at Teatro Grande on May 3;
Ying Li, Chinese-American winner of the inaugural Antonio Mormone Competition, will play at the Donizetti on May 21 and at the S. Barnaba Auditorium on May 22;
Josef Mossali will make his debut at the Donizetti on June 8.
INSIGHTS
Press Review L’Eco della Stampa 2022/02/23 | Festival pianistico | Bergamonews.it 2022/02/23 | brescia.corriere.it 2022/02/23