Category Archives: Lucca

Lucca Musical Association (AML) Events

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TETRAKTIS PERCUSSIONI

It’s the AML’s 54th season. From January to April there will be over twenty events dedicated to great music of all periods and aimed at an increasingly wider and appreciative audience. Partnership with ‘Amadeus’ magazine and Rai Radio3 continues in 2018.

The chamber music season begins on Sunday, January 14 at 5 pm in the Suffragio Auditorium with an unusual concert completely dedicated to percussion. The players are the Tetraktis Percussioni group (Gianluca Saveri – Laura Mancini – Gianni Maestrucci – Leonardo Ramadori) who have emerged as one of the most brilliant, innovative and far-sighted ensembles on the Italian scene.

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

FILIPPO GORINI’S EXCEPTIONAL PIANISM

FILIPPO GORINI, the young international pianist who, in 2015, won first prize at the Beethoven Competition in Bonn and the Beethoven-Ring in 2016, plays on Saturday 20 January .

The program includes music by Schumann, Chopin, and Beethoven.

Introduction to the concert by Paolo Bolpagni

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

THE NOUS QUARTET WITH GIAMPAOLO BANDINI

Sunday, January 28th, recital by the Noûs Quartet (Abbiati award (Italian music critics) in 2015) consisting of Tiziano Baviera and Alberto Franchini, violins; Sara Dambruoso, viola; Tommaso Tesini, cello with the special guest appearance of Giampaolo Bandini, guitar.

The program includes music by Boccherini, Beethoven and Ravel.

Marco Mangani introduces the concert.

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

PIANO RECITAL BY SASKIA GIORGINI

On Sunday 4 February there’s a recital by the pianist Saskia Giorgini, First Prize at the “Mozart” Competition, Salzburg 2015. She plays a program that ranges from the great composers to opera, with reference to the dance.
Music by Mozart, Beethoven, F. Chopin, Liszt and Tchaikovsky.

Introduction to the concert by Massimo Marsili

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

BEETHOVEN’S COMPLETE PIANO TRIOS (PART TWO)

On Sunday 11 February there’s the second part of Beethoven’s complete piano trios, (started in the 2016 season) by the Trio di Parma consisting of Ivan Rabaglia violin -Enrico Bronzi cello-Alberto Miodini piano.

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

HOMAGE TO LUIGI BOCCHERINI

On Sunday, February 18th there’s a concert dedicated to Luigi Boccherini on the occasion of the 275th anniversary of his birth

Mario Brunello, cello
Enrico Pace, piano

In the program music by Brahms, Boccherini and R. Strauss.

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

RECITAL BY THE ADORNO QUARTET

On Sunday 25th February there’s a recital by the Adorno string quartet: Edoardo Zosi and Liù Pellicciari violins – Benedetta Bucci viola – Danilo Squitieri cello.

The program includes music by Beethoven, Colasanti, and Debussy.

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

BEETHOVEN’S COMPLETE PIANO TRIOS PART THREE

On Sunday, March 4th there’s the third and final instalment of Beethoven’s complete piano trios; a project which started in the 2016 season. In the limelight is the Trio di Parma with Ivan Rabaglia violin – Enrico Bronzi cello-
Alberto Miodini piano.

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

MAURIZIO BAGLINI PLAYS SCHUMANN

On Sunday 11th March there’s Maurizio Baglini’s piano recital dedicated to Robert Schumann.

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

HUMAN PASSION

On Sunday 18th March there will be an original show entitled “Human passion” with the participation of the Quartetto Prometeo  (Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2012) with Giulio Rovighi and Aldo Campagnari violins – Massimo Piva viola – Francesco Dillon cello.

The afternoon consists of the contemporary music of Matteo D’Amico who sets a script by Sandro Cappelletto (narrator) inspired by “The Gospel according to Jesus” by Josè Saramago.

The program is completed by music by Haydn and Schubert

Info and reservations tel. 0583 469960

Midnight Mass at Montegral

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As customary, the Montegral Academy is performing in the Midnight Mass at the Convento dell’Angelo (above Ponte a Moriano), which will be celebrated by the Passionist Fathers. Participating are the artistes of the Montegral Academy, (returning from the Tiroler Festspiele in Austria), conducted by Gustav Kuhn

The Christmas music performed will include pieces by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Franck. Bizet, Handel, Liszt, Vivaldi, Mascagni and S. Adams.

Free shuttle bus service from Ponte a Moriano car park (behind the theatre) starting at 10.30 pm and returning from 01.00 am onwards.

For more information, please call 0583 40630

 

CLUSTER’S Contemporary Music Festival

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CLUSTER MUSIC FESTIVAL

From 7th to 19th November CLUSTER, Lucca’s Contemporary Music Association, starts its ninth year of activity with a novelty: the CLUSTER Music Festival. These are twelve days dedicated to new CDs, book presentations and the Cluster Music Festival. The Festival includes meetings with composers, concerts, as well as scientific discoveries on brainwaves and their beneficial effects on humans reacting to sound waves: all organized in the name of contemporary music with free entrance, thanks to the contribution of the Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca.

PRESENTATION OF NEW CD BY ANTONELLO CRESTI

On Tuesday, November 7, at 6 pm, at Luccalibri literary café, at Cluster Music Festival’s review there’s a presentation of Solchi sperimentali, the movie, a double DVD by Antonello Cresti, introduced by Renzo Cresti

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC COLLECTION BY EMA VINCI RECORDS

On Wednesday, November 8th, at 6 pm at Luccalibri Literary Café, the EMA Vinci Records’ contemporary music collection will be presented by Anita Azzi and Renzo Cresti.

KUKU TRIO’S THE NEW RECORDING PROJECT

On Thursday, November 9th, at 6 pm, at the Fondazione Banca del Monte Auditorium in Lucca, the KUKU Trio from Florence will present their new “kuku” project (‘pulse’ in Hawaiian) combining the artistic researches of Martino Rappelli (guitar), Sara Montagni (voice, flute and sensors) and Tommaso Rosati (live electronics). Experimentation and hybridization of different musical languages ​​characterize the trio’s production: a series of jazz-inspired compositions in which exploration of timbre and the search for a personal language interplays with ‘mathematical’ rhythms and frozen static sound. Synthetic, acoustic and concrete sounds stand out. The Trio is the winner of the “Julia … jazz and not only” competition 2013, “Giovanni Finizii” award for the best unpublished 2013 songwriter, finalist at the “Jazz Live Prize” Fara music festival 2013.

ILARIA BALDACCINI PERFORMS AT THE SCUOLA FUORICENTRO

On Friday, November 10th, at 7.30 pm at the Scuola Fuoricentro, Ilaria Baldaccini presents her new CD containing piano music by Tuscan composers and performing some pieces on the CD. The concert is organized in collaboration with the Scuola Fuoricentro.

MEETING WITH ALESSANDRO SOLBIATI

On Saturday November 11th, at 3 pm, in the Oratorio di S. Giuseppe (Duomo di Lucca) there’s the first Cluster Music Festival event with the well-known Italian composer Alessandro Solbiati. The afternoon’s programme is as follows:

At 3 pm there’s a meeting with the composer who will talk about his music, advise young composers on the path of a new composition from its conception to its public performance etc.

At 5 pm Renzo Cresti will interview Alessandro Solbiati;

At 5.30 pm Alfonso Alberti will perform Sedici Interludi  for piano by Alessandro Solbiati.

Alessandro Solbiati is a professor of composition at Milan’s G. Verdi Conservatory. He has also held courses in Paris (Conservatoire National Superiore de Musique), Avignon (Centre Acanthes), San Marino and Milan (Civic School).

He has won numerous awards in national and international competitions and received commissions from institutions such as Teatro alla Scala in Milan, RAI, Bologna Municipal Theatre, Radio France, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, South Bank Centre London and others.

Alfonso Alberti is a much sought-after pianist in Europe and the United States. He has studied with P. Rattalino and R. Risaliti and has been taught by M. Damerini, R. Tureck, F. Scala, and O. Marshev. Noteworthy is Alfonso Alberti’s commitment to the popularity and promotion of last century’s music, with a repertoire ranging from historical avant-garde to younger composers. Alfonso Alberti is also a musicologist.

THE ENSEMBLE MOTO CONTRARIO IN THE ORIGIN OF S. GIUSEPPE

Sunday, November 12, at 5 pm, at the Oratorio di S. Giuseppe (Duomo di Lucca) there’s a concert by the Moto Contrario Ensemble consisting of Emanuele Dalmaso, sax; Riccardo Terrin, trumpet; Andrea Mattevi, viola; Marco Longo, piano; Cosimo Colazzo, piano and direction.

The afternoon music program includes pieces from Cluster members Alessandro Polito and Antonio Agostini, as well as pieces by K. Penderecki, C. Colazzo, F. Quintero, G. Scelsi and M. Longo.

RENZO CRESTI PRESENTS THE SECOND EDITION OF THE BOOK “REASONS AND FEARS”

On Wednesday, November 15th at 6 pm, at Luccalibri literary coffee, Renzo Cresti presents the second edition of his book “Ragioni e sentimenti”.

LUIGI ESPOSITO PRESENTS THE HER NEW CD “DIECI PLACES MALSANI”.

On Thursday, November 16, at 5 pm, at the Auditorium BML Foundation, Luigi Esposito presents his new CD titled  “Dieci Luoghi Malsani , visione d’ascolto ideata per l’VIII cerchio dell’Inferno di Dante detto Malebolgee.” It’s a piece for piano four-hands, recorded and electronic sounds. Renzo Cresti introduces.

TRIO FOR FLUTE, VIOLIN AND GUITAR

On Thursday, November 16, at 7 pm, at the Auditorium of the BML Foundation there’s a concert by a trio consisting of Stefano Agostini (flute) Miriam Sadun (violin), Silvano Mazzoni (guitar). The programme includes pieces by Cluster members Andrea Gerratana and Saverio Rapezzi, as well as compositions by Willy Burkhard, Massimo Buffetti, Laurent Boutros and René Espere

THE ETYMOS ENSEMBLE IN THE BML FOUNDATION AUDITORIUM

On Friday, November 17th, at 5 pm, there’s a concert by the Etymos Ensemble, in residence of at Cluster and formed by Francesco Gatti (flute, Toni Capula (clarinet), Diego Desole (percussion), Alberto Gatti (electronics).

“BIRTH – MUSIC – PSYCHOSOMATICS” WITH NITAMO MONTECUCCO

On Saturday, November 18th, at 9 pm, Dr. Nitamo Montecucco will hold a meeting on the theme of “Brain – Music – Psychosomatics” at the BML Foundation Auditorium.

During the evening, slides and a short video on the brain will be shown about the latest neuroscience research by Nobel Edelman on consciousness as a synchronous frequency network. The harmonic images of EEG brain waves will also be shown and how the rupture of this harmony is related to discomfort and psychosomatic illness. It will explain the research of famous US neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp on emotions and how music can awaken and “cure the heart” or instead cause depression and “close the heart” by altering hormonal balance and generating stress disorder and stress psychosomatic illnesses. Finally, Montecucco’s research on important music actions on neurotransmitters and on emotions that will improve health and well-being will be explained.

At the end, a brief demonstration of how some music frequencies can facilitate inner awareness, reduce stress and “open the heart” will be offered.

Dr. Federico Nitamo Montecucco is a physician specializing in psychosomatics and a neuroscience researcher with a lectureship at the Natural Medicine University of Milan, at the WHO Collaborating Centre. He is a professor of psychosomatics at the Complementary Medicine department of Pavia and Novara University. He is a lecturer at Siena’s Counselling and Relational University. Dr Montecucco has published numerous books and scientific research papers.

THE “BALUARDO” VOCAL GROUP CLOSES THE FESTIVAL

On Sunday November 19th, at 9 pm, the Cluster Music Festival concludes in the Church of S. Maria Corteorlandini with the performance of the “Il Baluardo” Lucca vocal group directed by Elio Antichi with Manuel Del Ghingaro on the keyboard.

The evening’s programme will alternate popular songs from the choir’s repertoire with new compositions by Cluster members Francesco Cipriano and Silvia Marchetti.

The concert is organized in collaboration with the “Il Baluardo” vocal group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Statue to Lucca’s Musical Heritage

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Francesco Xaverio Geminiani’s statue in Piazza Guidiccioni, unveiled yesterday by Mayor Alessandro Tambellini, brings the number of statues dedicated to Lucca’s heritage of great composers to four. There’s Puccini’s in Piazza della Cittadella, inaugurated in 1994, Alfredo Catalani’s at Baluardo San Paolino, dating from 1954, and Boccherini’s cello-playing one in front of the music school named after him and placed there in 2008.

Geminiani (1687 – 1762) perfected his studies in Rome. A gifted violinist, he was much influenced by Arcangelo Corelli. In 1714 Francesco moved to London where he scored a great success with his concerti grossi and violin teaching. (His ‘Treatise on the Fundamental Principles of Violin playing’ is a key text for anyone playing late baroque music). The composer died in Dublin but his remains were later reburied in Lucca’s San Francesco church where there is a memorial plaque.

Geminiani’s statue is placed at one end of the Piazza and is the only one of the four memorials which is of marble. Showing him with his violin at rest it’s a little larger than life-size and is the work of Nicola Domenici from Viareggio.

The unveiling ceremony was accompanied by the inevitable speeches and by an excellent performance of one of Geminiani’s often fiendishly difficult solo sonatas. It’s no wonder that he was nicknamed ‘il furibondo’ (the madcap) by his contemporaries.

 

Any new statue is bound to arouse differing opinions. I leave it to you to form your own.

Plans for further Luccan composer statues?  Why not one for Francesco Barsanti who accompanied Geminiani to the UK and spent much of his career in Edinburgh?

I ‘Monument Men’ e Altre Associazioni

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Se rimane cosi tanto di bello nell’Italia a dispetto dell’ultima guerra, questo è dovuto in gran parte ai ‘monument men’ degli alleati, celebrati in un film del 2014 diretto da George Clooney. Fu veramente un’idea nuova d’istituire un reparto speciale, nell’armata degli alleati, dedicato a proteggere il maggiore possibile le grandi opere artistiche che l’Italia, più di ogni altro paese nel mondo, possiede.

Tra i fondatori di questo reparto fu ‘Teddy’ Croft-Murray, discendente di una famiglia inglese che conta tra i suoi antenati il grande compositore Wiliam Croft. Fu lui a salvare le innumerevoli opere d’arte destinate dai nazisti per le loro dimore. Si concentrò, in particolare, a una Napoli in stato tristissimo nel 1943, una situazione peggiorata dall’eruzione del Vesuvio del 1944.  Protesse l’immenso patrimonio di quella grande città impiegando parte dell’esercito britannico a difendere i musei e i monasteri contro lo sciacallaggio. Inoltre, andò a ricerca di quei tesori che erano già stati trafugati nel Terzo Reich e li trovò nelle miniere e le cave dell’Austria.

Fu ‘Teddy’ uno di quei colti ufficiali dei regimenti britannici a individuare le città che, a tutti i costi, non dovevano subire il flagello della guerra, cercando di spostare le linee di combattimento quando possibile. Dobbiamo a quest’ufficiale e i suoi assistenti, il fatto che così tante città di somma arte come Lucca, Siena e Urbino furono risparmiate dalla distruzione che, purtroppo, toccò – grazie all’ostinazione teutonica che si abbassò al combattimento, via per via – a città come Pisa e Arezzo.

(‘Teddy’ Croft-Murray, uno dei ‘Monument Men’ durante l’ultima guerra) 

Anche a Pisa, però, ‘Teddy’ fece il suo meglio per salvare quello che rimaneva degli affreschi del camposanto deturpati dal piombo che calava giù le mura grazie a una bomba incendiaria americana lanciata fuori mira.

(Pisa Camposanto 1944)

Dopo la guerra Edward Croft-Murray ritornò al suo lavoro nel dipartimento di disegni e stampe presso il British Museum e sposò la contessa Giovanna Saffi, nipote del grande patriota Aurelio Saffi, amico di Mazzini. Da questo matrimonio ebbe anche una figlia, Tania, che diventò una particolarmente sensitiva traduttrice di libri, specialmente quelli scritti da Piero Camporesi, professore di letteratura e antropologia presso l’università di Bologna.

(Un testo tradotto dalla Tania Croft-Murray)

La Lady Saffi ebbe per padre il nipote di Aurelio Saffi, Enrico Saffi che, nel 1914, sposò Tatiana Boesch, pianista di origine russo-danese. Saffi, docente delle scuole governative, nel 1919 contribuì con (tra altri) Vincenzo Cardarelli  e Antonio Baldini alla prima pubblicazione della rivista ‘La Ronda’.

Il matrimonio di Giovanna Saffi con Edward Croft-Murray si dissolse nel 1960. La Saffi lavorò come assistente ed infine sposò il grande economista Richard Stone che, nel 1984, vinse il premio Nobel per l’economia. Fu collaboratrice con lo Stone in vari testi di somma importanza nel ramo della micro-economia. In particolare, il testo National Income and Expenditure definì un intero nuovo campo della micro-economia e perfezionò l’uso di termini che oggi si sente perfino troppo sul notiziario, come il ‘P.I.L’.

(Il Professore Richard Stone 1913 – 1991)

Di questa galassia di persone insigne incontrai Richard Stone brevemente quando, come timido studente all’università di Cambridge, andai alla sua casa perché avevo capito che una bellissima ragazza alla quale mi ero innamorato all’Istituto Italiano di Cultura a Londra, (e che poi dieci anni dopo divenne la mia moglie), Alexandra, era in visita alla figliastra Tania. Infatti, da piccole Alexandra e Tania facevano il bagno insieme ed erano grandi compagne da gioco.

(Alexandra a 21 anni presso l’Istituto Italiano di Cultura a Londra)

Tania ebbe anche un periodo come cantante lirica – forse una rievoca della sua nonna musicista che tenne bellissimi saloni musicali. Quando Tania cantò la parte di Donna Elvira nel ‘Don Giovanni’, (non quello di Mozart ma quello di Giuseppe Gazzaniga, composto un anno prima del capolavoro Mozartiano e che ebbe simile successo al suo esordio a Venezia nel 1787), incontrai ‘Teddy’ Croft-Murray, una figura spiccamente Vittoriana con i suoi occhiali quasi alla John Lennon.  La performance fu all’allora Collegiate, o Bloomsbury Theatre associata con l’università di Londra.  Infatti, era lo stesso, ‘Don Giovanni’ di Gazzaniga che fu riesumato da Herbert Handt, fondatore dell’Associazione Musicale Lucchese, nel 1963.

(Giuseppe Gazzaniga (1743 – 1818)

Dopo il nostro sposalizio Alexandra ed io facemmo una visita all’antica dimora dei Croft-Murray il castello di Croft vicino al Galles. Incontrammo la sorella di ‘Teddy’ e suo marito. Il castello era veramente favoloso con anche dei manoscritti del musicista antenato settecentesco, William Croft, che scrisse cosi tanta bella musica.

225px-WilliamCroftChoirboy

(William Croft 1678 – 1727)

E se non conoscete la musica di Croft, dovete sapere che la fuga di Bach chiamata la Santa Anna (BWV 552 in mi bemolle) è basata su un tema di Croft.

Non mi dimenticherò mai quel pomeriggio tipicamente inglese prendendo il thè nella dimora ancestrale:

 

(In visita alla sorella di Edward Croft-Murray al suo castello)

Si dice che più s’invecchia più si abbandona ai ricordi. In questo caso però mi sono abbandono alla scoperta che così tante persone che ho incontrato, anche brevemente, e che ora si trovano dall’altra parte dell’arcobaleno hanno collegamenti che non potevo mai immaginare o apprezzare nella mia gioventù.

Tragic Darkness Hits Lucca’s ‘Luminara’ Celebrations

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My article about the Ealing Symphony orchestra concert and the excellent acoustics of Lucca’s Santa Maria Corteorlandini was going to be mentioned by the organiser of the next concert at the same venue, Elio Antichi, on the first of September, when a tragedy struck Lucca and Elio, out of respect, cancelled the concert.

Every year the city’s major event is the Luminara, an occasion when its most precious relic is celebrated and the whole town is illuminated by myriads of candles. September is the big month for Lucca; “il settembre Lucchese” is built around the Festa dell’Esaltazione della Santa Croce where the Volto Sacro or Holy Face – the ancient relic supposed to be a likeness of Christ and carved by St Nicodemus – is paraded within the walled city in a mammoth candlelit procession and where the whole evening is climaxed by a stupendous fireworks display.

I’ve described this occasion in more detail in my posts at:

https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/lucca-by-candle-light/

https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/holy-face/

Sadly this year two workmen involved in setting up the candles on some buildings in Lucca’s Via Vittorio Veneto died when the jib of the crane supporting the platform, from which they were installing the candles, gave way because of a hydraulic piston failure. This sent one of the workmen to his immediate death from a height of ten metres. The other workman expired shortly afterwards in Lucca’s hospital.

The workmen’s names were Eugenio Viviani, 54 years old from Santa Maria del Giudice e Antonio Pellegrini, 61 years old, from Lammari.

‘Morti Bianche’ (white deaths) is the name given to Italy’s fatal work accidents. Unfortunately, there are still too many of these happening in this country. No-one should have to die at work and yet in 2016 alone there were 1018 ‘morti bianche’ in Italy. This compares with just (!) 136 such deaths in the UK.

We all know that Italians love taking risks and that maintenance controls aren’t what they should be but this tragic accident has cast darkness over the forthcoming Luminara celebrations. Literally too, for there will be no candles lit at this year’s Luminara and there will be no fireworks to round off the evening as a sign of respect. It’s truly a sad moment for the families of the dead and, indeed, for all people who love Lucca.

PS I’ve since heard that the city will be lit by candles but that the palazzo from which the two workmen fell to their death will be kept unlit as a sign of remembrance for this tragic incident which has truly shocked Lucca.

Dancing on the Walls of Lucca

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CONCERTS ON LUCCA’S WALLS

SPAM! GOOD ART IS HEALTHY presents Live Dance Club, dance concerts on the walls of Lucca. The events, organised by ALDES / SPAM! in collaboration with Barga Jazz, Casermetta San Salvatore, the Opera of the Walls and with the patronage of the Commune of Lucca, will be held in Casermetta San Salvatore on the Walls of Lucca from 30 August to 20 September beginning at 9.30 pm. During the four evenings, great instrumentalists will alternate between innovation ​​and tradition, from jazz to afro beat, bebop to New Orleans polyphony, blues to Latin, and engage audiences in new dances.

On August 30 there’s the Afro beat Classical Orchestra.

Its thirteen elements will feature Fela Kuti, inventor and exponent of African Afro beat, one of the most influential African personalities of the twentieth century, “SHARE YOU Fela goes classical” tribute.

ENTRY € 5, 00

FREE ENTRY for under 18

During the evenings one can dine and drink at the Casermetta S. Salvatore

For those who would like to dine at Ristoro La Casermetta booking is strongly advised (limited number of tables) by phoning: 0583.462206 and 389.7669769

Info: info@spamweb.it

Tel. 342 0591932 – 348 3213503

Wednesday, September 6 is the second event with the participation of DIMITRI GRECHI ESPINOZA DANCE TRIO

Nicola Venturini – sax

Hammond – organ

Piero Perelli – battery

ZAM MOUSTAPHA DEMBÉLÉ TRIO ON THE WALLS OF LUCCA

On Thursday, September 14, the third event will take place with the participation of ZAM MOUSTAPHA DEMBÉLÉ TRIO.

Zam Moustapha Dembele – bass / balafon / percussion

Paolo Sodini – guitar

Filippo Guerrieri – Keyboard

Donald Renda – percussion

ORGANIC GROOVE TRIO ON THE WALLS OF LUCCA

On Wednesday 20 September there’s the fourth and last event with DANCEJAM and ORGANIC GROOVE TRIO.

Guest artist Alessandro Rizzardi sax
Luca Giovacchini – guitar
Pee Wee Durante – organo
Matteo Sodini – percussion
open jam session

 

 

 

 

Wonderful Lucca Music Scene Continues after Summer

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MYSTICAL TRAVEL WORLD WITH “LA VISIONE DI MELIA”

After the great success in 2013 of the IL SOGNO DI MELIA and VIAGGIO DI MELIA DEL 2015, on Saturday 2 September at 9 pm there will be staged in the charming setting of the Cloister of St. Micheletto – Lucca, IL SOGNO DI MELIA (THE VISION OF MELIA), an original show interpreted by Paola Massoni, which is the third of the ‘Sinesthesia’ trilogy based on the experiences of Ninfa Melia. In addition to soprano Paola Massoni, singer and actor, as well as author and composer, the performance will have on stage many musicians, dancers and high-class performers from Lucca and Tuscany. The experimental, fully enriched, music program consists almost entirely of Paola Massoni’s compositions, written specifically for the “Vision” and some unmistakable passages from the great classical music of Luporini, Saint Saens and De Falla, some arranged by Marco Cattani, presented by the author, and accompanied by a classical orchestral ensemble (strings, winds, piano) conducted by Carlo Bernini and accompanied by an electronic section by Max Guerrero, with a Chamber Choir children’s voices and the dance ensemble directed by Elisa Giovannelli and Michela Giannelli who will enact a scenario animated by light-shows and video projections directed by Emiliana Paoli.

Free admission

GRAZIANO POLIDORI AWARD

On Sunday 3 September at 5.30 pm in the church of Colognora di Pescaglia there’s a vocal concert in honour of Graziano Polidori, the lucchese baritone. The event, organized by Gabriele Viviani, a baritone of international fame, is a ‘thank you’ for what Viviani himself calls “his only teacher of all time, which made his worldwide fame possible.”

The concert, organised with the collaboration of Angelo Frati of the Museo del Castagno di Colognora and the municipality of Pescaglia, includes Gabriele Viviani, tenor Stefano la Colla, soprano Francesca Maionchi and Ilaria Cassai as well as Graziano Polidori’s piano students.

“LUCIANA PARDINI” SILVER PLATE AWARD TO YOUNG ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR BEATRICE VENEZIA

On Sunday, September 17, at 5.30 pm, at the Sala dell’affresco, in the San Micheletto complex (LU), the “Alfredo Catalani” Circolo Friends of Music is organizing the nineteen year of “In Sogno“ where the Silver plaque “Luciana Pardini” is awarded

Recognition is awarded annually by the circle to young talents both in the lyrical, instrumental and cultural field, in memory of Luciana Pardini, a member of the circle who died prematurely.

The 2017 edition of the prize is awarded to the young pianist and composer, conductor of the Lucchese orchestra, Beatrice Venezi, who conducted Puccini’s ‘La Rondine ‘with such panache at Torre Del Lago this season.

The award ceremony will be followed by a recital, with soprano Eleonora Contuci and baritone Francesco Samuele Venuti.

Sabino Lenoci journalist, musicologist and editor of Opera magazine introduces the evening.

As usual, the event is free.

For booking (preferred) – please call 347 9951581

THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF LUCCHESE POLIFONES IS CELEBRATED

On Sunday, September 24, at 5.30 pm in the church of San Michele, there’s a concert for S. Michele organized by Polifonica Lucchese.

With this event, the town choir directed by Egisto Matteucci will celebrate 50th anniversary of its foundation. Giacomo Puccini’s 4-voice Mass with orchestra and the Mottetto for St. Paolino are programmed. Entrance with free ticket. Participants will be offered a brochure about the 50th Anniversary of Lucchese Polifonica.

 

 

 

 

A Different Kind of Butterfly House

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Last month I helped out in a wedding as celebrator of marriage vows.  The words were put together by Lisa Redgrave who is creator and director of the nuptial magic that is called ‘Hitched in Italy’ and whose web site is at http://www.hitchedinitaly.com/.

The words, which were very beautiful, started:

Friends and Family of the bride and groom welcome and thank you for being here on this important day.

We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between ***** and *****, by joining them in marriage.

All of us need and desire to love and to be loved.

Let me say I am not a vicar or priest – just an enlivener of special occasions. The actual legal marriage ceremony was performed in Lucca’s noble palace which I have described at

https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/a-meeting-with-the-mayor-of-lucca/

I’ve assisted a couple of times at Lisa’s beautifully organized wedding events which are always set in stunning settings such as aristocratic villas and rustic villages. The one I attended, however, must take the crown for uniqueness. Nicknamed ‘Casa farfalla’ (Butterfly house) the house has to be one the most original modern building in the Lucchesia or indeed in the world. Designed by Michel Boucquillon and Donia Maaoui, artists, architects and designers the estate spreads its wings on the hills just to the south of Lucca.

The ensemble consists of a villa, a guest house and a pool, all proving that contemporary architecture married to technology can create a new magic. There is a harmony between the buildings and their environment which only the most traditional architecture would have been able to capture. Yet the project is as up-to-date as it gets.

The main building has an openable roof with two wings fanning out at an angle of 30 degrees (hence the name). This structure is operated by six hydraulic pistons. The opened-out roof can thus provide natural ventilation to the house and can also give its lucky occupants the reality of literally dreaming and sleeping in a starlight hotel.

Being invited in such an extraordinary place is quite a privilege. For more information on using the location for both receptions and holidays see the following sites:

https://www.tripadvisor.it/VacationRentalReview-g187898-d8486807-CASA_FARFALLA-Lucca_Province_of_Lucca_Tuscany.html

https://www.facebook.com/pg/MICHEL-BOUCQUILLON-Architect-Designer-171419476353987/photos/?tab=album&album_id=254180831411184

For me, apart from having the chance of being invited to participate in a happy event, the most extraordinary feature of the house, together with its award winning design (an award shared with Renzo Piano’s London’s Shard) are the most wonderful views it has towards the city of Lucca.

PS If you are interested or know anyone who is interested in having an otherworldly wedding ceremony in a stunning location beautifully and professionally organized for you do check our Lisa Redgrave’s web site at

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Ealing Comes to Lucca

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What an extraordinary combination: the Ealing Symphony orchestra from the leafy west London suburb in Lucca’s magnificent baroque church of Santa Maria Corteorlandini and playing that solace-giving life-enhancing, absolutely gorgeous, Rachmaninov second symphony and Elgar too!

Thanks to the energy of Elio Antichi, tenor, impresario, all-round musician, founder and director of Lucca’s famed Baluardi choir for almost thirty years, organiser of the international orchestra season, now in its sixteenth year, and great encourager of youth music this combination flowered into an extraordinary synthesis of sound and architecture.

First, the church: Santa Maria Corteorlandini – or Santa Maria Nera as it is called by the Lucchesi because of the dark statue of the Madonna placed in a side chapel, an exact copy of the Holy House of Loreto, and to distinguish it from Santa Maria Bianca, otherwise known as Santa Maria Fuorisportam. This is my favourite of all Lucca’s hundred churches and it is close to the heart of Antichi too.

Not only is the interior spectacular but the acoustics are absolutely amazing!

The Ealing Symphony orchestra, now going for over ninety years, is one of the UK top amateur orchestras but don’t be put off by that tag ‘amateur’. Its playing is fully professional and does credit to the high standards of British orchestral performances.

As for Rachmaninov, famously described by Stravinsky as ‘six foot six of Russian gloom’, there is nothing gloomy about his second symphony. Dreamy it certainly is and energizing too.  Premiered in 1908 the symphony had to be a make-or-break work after the disaster of the composer’s first symphony (largely due to the conductor Glazunov being drunk in charge of an orchestra) which cast Rachmaninov into a depression which was only alleviated by his visit to a hypnotherapist.

I don’t quite know which version of the symphony John Gibbons, the conductor of the Ealing orchestra since 1994, used: the original score was lost for many years, only found in 2004 and sold for over a million pounds. However, the performance did full justice to whatever score was used. What was most extraordinary was how the three-aisled church of Santa Maria Nera accommodated the sound of the excellent brass section of the orchestra. Indeed, the total balance was perfect and each instrumental section was distinctly heard – something often difficult in the usually over-reverberating acoustics of some Luccan churches (San Michele in Foro, in particular…).

After a slightly underwhelming start the slow third movement built up to a pinnacle of pure beauty and redemption. I felt the frescoed Saints of the church’s vaults coming alive in joy at the sound. If any one’s heart isn’t melted by this lovely music then I fear they are not human!

(Part of Rachmaninov’s Symphony no 2)

The Rachmaninov took up the second half of the concert. And what about the first half? Elgar’s passionate ‘In the south (Alassio)’ encapsulated the colours and sensations of Italy from a glorious sunrise to the tramp of Roman legions to the evening shepherd’s song and, as befits an English orchestra, the Ealing Band played it to perfection. Doreen Carwithen’s (William Alwyn’s wife who died just 14 years ago) Bishop Rock Overture was an excellent piece of characteristic 1950’s film music and reminded me that she also wrote the score for the official film of Her Majesty’s coronation.

J. S. Bach’s concerto for two violins saw a much scaled down orchestra (from over fifty to under ten players, in fact) as befits music from the Baroque era. Here was truly a sound that was closest to the architecture of Santa Maria Nera. The E.S.O. showed they could easily tackle the different aesthetics of eighteenth century music with complete conviction and with two superlative soloists (who were the leaders of the strings).

It’s not often one gets a dollop of Elgar in Lucca (Despite Colombini’s efforts) and it was most welcome. To add Bach and Rachmaninov to this dish provided a musical feast which will keep me from going hungry until….well, the next concert in this brilliant season.

For further details of the cornucopia of music events in Lucca throughout the summer (indeed, throughout the rest of the year) do look at the page I edit in English in LuccaMusica’s web page at

http://www.luccamusica.it/language/en/.

Apart from Elio Antichi’s untiring efforts, thanks are also due to the William Alwyn foundation, Luccan generosity and the Santa Maria Nera community for this wonderful free concert.

(The opening of Elgar’s tone poem  ‘In the South (Alassio)’

PS If you want to live another day to hear concerts at this lovely church don’t linger outside the front door (usually closed anyway). There’s this notice to consider: