On Wednesday, May 29, the award ceremony for the 2019 School Competition took place at the Teatro Sociale in Bergamo, as part of the 56th edition of the International Piano Festival of Brescia and Bergamo.
The winner of the 2019 School Competition is Adela Mhilli from the Primary School of the State Comprehensive Institute “Maria Piazzoli” in Ranica.
The Jury also decided to award classes III A and IV A of the Primary School of the State Comprehensive Institute of San Pellegrino Terme.
Fondazione Pesenti, a long-time supporter of the initiative, aims to actively promote and encourage the education of new generations and the construction of a cultural and educational pathway.
“The Competition Committee, for this edition, decided to award two provincial realities: the students of the third and fourth grades of the Primary School of San Pellegrino Terme and a student from the Primary School of Ranica. The works by the students from San Pellegrino Terme highlighted the value of the new initiative of the Festival ‘Young Talents and Surroundings’: these are concerts organized in the province, coinciding with the dates of the ‘Festival and Surroundings’ program, featuring outstanding students from the Bergamo Conservatory.
The Conservatory students performed in front of the students, making themselves available for questions and curiosities, offering music to listen to, see, know and… touch.
In recognition of the collaboration, which has been ongoing for several years, with the Provincial Orchestra of S.M.I.M. and the Bergamo Youth Orchestra—who have been generously involved during the award evenings of the Competitions—the Festival wanted to grant them a prize as important musical realities in the territory, hoping to see their members on the Festival stage in the near future. Alongside these two orchestral groups, the Festival also awarded two valuable representatives, Professors Edoardo Caffi and Katia Vestri.
The winner of the 2019 School Competition is Adela Mhilli from the Primary School of the State Comprehensive Institute “Maria Piazzoli” in Ranica.
The Jury also decided to award classes III A and IV A of the Primary School of the State Comprehensive Institute of San Pellegrino Terme.
The Festival
The 56th edition of the festival focused on the most beautiful and moving pages of Romantic music, under the evocative title “Veiled Music”, sulle note di Schumann (il maestro) e Brahms (l’allievo).
Founded in 1964, the festival brings the elite of great music to the splendid settings of the Teatro Grande in Brescia and the Teatro Sociale in Bergamo Alta—architectural jewels from the late 18th century with a sumptuous charm. About 50 concerts celebrating Romanticism in less than two months. Many alternative venues besides the two theaters are involved, including palaces, churches, courtyards, and squares for some side events and concerts featuring young talents.
In the famous review that Robert Schumann dedicated to the young Johannes Brahms in 1853, Schumann wrote: “[…] an extraordinarily brilliant way of playing, which made the piano an orchestra of voices, sometimes lamenting, sometimes exulting with joy; they were sonatas or rather veiled symphonies.”
Pier Carlo Orizio, the festival’s artistic director, explained the choice this way: “In this atmosphere, some of the highest and most sincere piano pieces were written, passionate yet familiar. I am sure that the performers who appear again this year on our Festival program will make us rediscover the timeless charm of this Music.”
Fondazione Pesenti e il Festival Pianistico Concerti con i Giovani Talenti del Conservatorio di Bergamo www.festivalpianistico.it