Lunchtime Concert Series

Marco Grieco – Italy

Friday 26 August, 2011 1.00pm Pianists of the World Series

Suggested donation £3.50

St Martin-in-the-Fields Trafalgar Square London WC2N 4JJ Tel: 020 7766 1100 www.smitf.org

If you are unable to stay for the whole of the concert please leave during the applause. Smoking and the consumption of food and drink are not allowed in this church. Members of the audience are kindly requested to switch off mobile phones and alarms on digital watches. Photography, audio or video recording are not permitted.

Programme

Sonata in D Minor K213 D Scarlatti 6 mins This sonata is a harmonically intense slow work. This intimate, refined, soul-searching music illustrates that Scarlatti was exceptionally gifted at writing music of depth, in this case a delicious and dolorous lament. Sonata in B Minor K27 D Scarlatti 4 mins The Sonata in B Minor is hardly free of conflict or tension: from the beginning the music seems constantly evolving, subtly building and seething (particularly in the development section, which occupies the latter half of the sonata). This four minute sonata is one of the better early efforts by Scarlatti. Sonata in C Sharp min0r op 27, No 2 ‘Moonlight’ Beethoven 16 mins The third composition in this programme is the famous Sonata op 27, No 2 ‘Moonlight’ (Quasi una Fantasia). Beethoven included the phrase Quasi una Fantasia (Italian: Almost a Fantasy) in the title partly because the sonata does not follow the traditional movement arrangement of fast-slow-[fast]-fast. Transcendental Etude No 6 ‘Vision’ Liszt 4 mins On the occasion of the Liszt anniversary year in 2011, Marco will perform three pieces by this great composer. ‘Vision’ is a study of the extensions of the hand, hands moving in opposite directions, arpeggiated double notes and tremolos. The visual image of this piece is a funeral. Transcendental Etude No 12 ‘Chasse-Neige’ Liszt 6 mins ‘Chasse-Neige’ meaning ‘Snowplow’ is the twelfth and last of the Transcendental Etudes. The etude is a study in tremolos, but contains many other difficulties such as wide jumps and fast chromatic scales, and requires a very gentle and soft touch in the beginning. It is one of the more difficult Transcendental Etudes. Concert Paraphrase on Rigoletto Liszt 7 mins Liszt fashioned a substantial concert piece with thematic material from one of the most dramatic moments in Verdi’s opera Rigoletto. Liszt uses the famous quartet from the scene ‘Bella figlia dell amore’, which comes in the final act shortly after the Duke’s even more famous ‘La donna e mobile’ aria. The colours are brilliant throughout and the ending is virtuosic and attractive. This is much fun, though hardly deep music.

The Performers Born in Foggia in Italy, Marco Grieco obtained his diploma in piano at the Umberto Giordano Music Conservatory with highest honors. He continued his studies privately with Pasquale Lannone, and attended many seminars and courses in piano technique and interpretation with Prof M Mollova, (Sofia, Bulgaria), Prof F J Thiollier (Scuola del Trio di Trieste) Prof A Lonquich (Garganico, Rhodes) and Prof M Matarrese (Bari and Lucera). Since 2008, he has won awards in more than thirty-five national and international music and piano competitions. Recently, he was on the podium at the International Piano Competition ‘Citta' di Cercola’ (2nd prize - 1st prize not awarded), International Piano Competition "Rossomandi" in Bovino (3rd Prize - 1st and 2nd prize not awarded) and at the International Piano Competitions ‘Citta' di Valentino’ (2nd prize), ‘Citta' di Fasano’ (2nd prize), ‘Ernesto Falla’ in Candelo (3rd prize) and the National Piano Competition ‘Citta' di Guardiagrele’ (1st Prize). Marco has been the winner of the International Music Competition ‘Ars Nova Prix’, International Music Competition ‘Paolo Barrasso’ in Caramanico Terme, National Music Competition ‘Orfeo Stillo’ (also special prize ‘Orfeo Stillo’ as best pianist in the competition), the International Music Competition ‘Estro Armonico’ in Ladispoli, the National Piano Competition in Magliano Sabina, the European Competition ‘Luigi Denza’ and the International Music Competition ‘M Grazia Vivaldi’ in Montalto Ligure. Marco has performed at many important festivals and concert halls in Italy, Spain and Macedonia. He will be recording a CD produced and distributed by ‘ClassicaViva’. Upcoming engagements include solo concerts at Puccini Hall for The Concert Society in Milan, Ravello Concert Society, Eutherpe Hall in Leon (Spain), Villa Torlonia, Teatro di Marcello and Baldini Hall in Rome and Amici del Carlo Felice e del Conservatorio N Paganini in Genoa. Marco has also graduated with full marks in Economics from the University of Foggia.

St Martin-in-the-Fields has welcomed talented musicians to this central London platform for over 50 years - from highly acclaimed young soloists, to choirs from all over the world; from promising new ensembles, to established professionals. This tradition is supported by the generosity of our performers as well as our audiences. Whilst these concerts are free to all, for those able to give, a suggested donation of £3.50 would be greatly appreciated to help fund all aspects of the work at St Martin’s.

Friday 26 August 7.30pm Period Performance Bach Brandenburg Concertos by Candlelight Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 5 Handel - Water Music Suite in G Vivaldi - Sopranino Concerto in C Vivaldi – ‘Autumn’ from Four Seasons Bach - Concerto for Two Violins in D minor Vivaldi - Flute Concerto ‘Il Gardellino’ Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 4 Feinstein Ensemble Catherine Manson Violin Martin Feinstein Director/Flute/Recorder Tickets: £24 £20 £16 £10 £8 Saturday 27 August 7.30pm Baroque Festival by Candlelight Vivaldi – ‘Spring’ and ‘Summer’ from Four Seasons Vivaldi – Concerto for Two Violins in A minor Vivaldi – Violin Concerto ‘La Tempesta di Mare’ Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No 3 Pachelbel – Canon in D Vivaldi – Sinfonia ‘Alla Rustica’ Mozart – Salzburg Symphony No 3 Handel – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba Bach – Air ‘on the G String’ Belmont Ensemble of London Helena Wood Violin Peter G Dyson Conductor Tickets: £26 £22 £18 £12 £8 A donation from the proceeds will be given to The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields STAY IN TOUCH www.facebook.com/musicatstmartins Twitter: @stmartinsmusic