Podcast Series: Gala Music Festival

GALA MUSIC FESTIVAL Recital di pianoforte “Pensiero musicale” - Ekaterina Chebotareva Convento dei Frati Cappuccini, Imola (BO) 16 December, 2023

GIULIA IIJIMA (PIANOFORTE) - Franz Liszt (Dante Sonata) - Haydin sonata in c major, Hob XVI N.48 - Skrjabin sonata N.4 FONDAZIONE ACCADEMIA INCONTRI COL MAESTRO ROCCA SFORZESCA Imola (BO) (PHS SOUND DESIGNER DIEGO MELFI)

The Études-Tableaux ("study pictures"), Op. 33 is the first of two opuses of piano etudes by Sergey Rachmaninov They were intended to be "picture pieces", essentially "musical evocations of external visual stimuli". But Rachmaninoff did not disclose what inspired each one, stating: "I do not believe in the artist that discloses too much of his images. Let the listener paint for themselves what it most suggests." However, he willingly shared sources for a few of these études with the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi when Respighi orchestrated them in 1930. Rachmaninoff biographer Max Harrison calls the Études-Tableaux "studies in musical composition"; while they explore a variety of themes, they "investigate the transformation of rather specific climates of feeling via piano textures and sonorities. They are thus less predictable than the preludes and compositionally mark an advance" in technique. Rachmaninoff initially wrote nine pieces for opus 33 but published only six in 1914. One etude, in A minor, was subsequently revised and used in the opus 39, the other two appeared posthumously and are now usually played with the other six. Performing these eight études together could be considered to run against the composer's intent, as the six originally published are unified through "melodic-cellular connections" in much the same way as in Schumann’s Symphonic Studies. Differing from the simplicity of the first four études, Nos. 5–8 are more virtuosic in their approach to keyboard writing, calling for unconventional hand positions, wide leaps for the fingers and considerable technical strength from the performer. Also, "the individual mood and passionate character of each piece" pose musical problems that preclude performance by those lacking strong physical technique. • Moderato in G minor — No. 7 (published as No. 5, originally No. 8) This study parallels the finale of the first Ballade in g minor by Chopin Piano - Ekaterina Chebotareva This record - Video & Sound - made by Diego Melfi International Pianists Academy “Incontri con maestro” Imola, Bologna, Italy Record of 2022

Léna & Louise Kollmeier, pianists Teatro Rossini (Lugo, Italia) International Music Festival - Rossini Open Nov. 2022 Recording & video : Diego Melfi Clothes : Alice Blome Sartoria https://www.facebook.com/lenalouisekollmeier/ https://www.instagram.com/lenalouisekollmeier/

Prokofiev: Sonata No. 2 in D minor, op. 14, II movement - Scherzo. Allegro marcato (in A minor) The Second Sonata in D minor, op. 14 by Sergei Prokofiev was written in 1912 and published by P. Jurgenson in 1913. Prokofiev dedicated the work to his friend and fellow student at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Maximilian Schmidthof, who committed suicide in 1913. Concert pianist Boris Berman has said of this sonata that it 'covers a huge emotional range: from Romantic lyricism to aggressive brutality'. Performance: Ekaterina Chebotareva, piano Dress: ​⁠@ELISABETTAFRANCHI Video and Sound design: ​⁠@diegomelfi-PHS- Recital in the Dante Alighieri Theater of Ravenna, Italy ​⁠@TeatroAlighieri Corelli Concert Hall October 18, 2023

video audio works. INFO:diego19melfi@icloud.com CELL:3317305136