The Italian Sound from Stefano Montanari

The concert at the National Philharmonic Hall is entitled “L’arte del Violino.” It will be held on March 19 as part of the popular series “Italian sound” (a joint creative action by the National Philharmonic Society and diplomats, supported by the Embassy of Italy in Ukraine). The famous Italian violinist and conductor Stefano Montanari will be performing this time. Montanari has many admirers in our country, as he has already performed in Ukraine two times – not only in Kyiv, but also in Odessa (within Italia Festival Barocco). Maestro will be accompanied by the ensemble L’Estravagante. Other musicians are Francesco Galligioni (cello) and Maurizio Salerno (harpsichord). Italian musicians will present the program, which includes sonatas by Arcangelo Corelli and Johann Sebastian Bach, which are little known by Ukrainian admirers of high art.

Before the concert in the Mykola Lysenko Hall of Columns, the virtuoso violinist Montanari will hold a master class in the Small Hall of the National Music Academy, entitled “Tips & Tricks del Violino.” Incidentally, the maestro also plays keyboards, conducting the ensemble and providing accompaniment on harpsichord or old piano. He teaches baroque violin at Milan International Music Academy, at Urbino Graduate School of Early Music, and at Verona Conservatory. Montanari has recently published the book Methods of Playing the Baroque Violin. His recent projects include the opera Orpheus and Eurydice by Gluck at a Neapolitan San Carlo Theater, and Mass in B minor at Florence Opera House, Journey to Reims by Rossini in Amsterdam, and Don Giovanni at the Arena di Verona.

Ensemble L’Estravagante is a collective of musicians who share a passion for chamber music, focusing their work on the baroque repertoire, using authentic tools and following the traditional way of playing music.

Violinist Stefano Montanari, cellist Francesco Galligioni and harpsichordist/organist Maurizio Salerno cooperate fruitfully not only within this ensemble. Each of them has an extensive concert and teaching experience, and is recognized internationally. In their long history of cooperation, these artists have managed to find an exceptional harmony necessary for a creative collective project, and the audience is always captivated by their skills.

COMMENTARY

Nancy Milesis ROMANO, art director of Italia Festival Barocco:

“I have been living in Ukraine and working in the cultural sphere for over four years, and throughout all this time I’ve seen the extraordinary interest Ukrainian public shares to Italian culture.

“Ukrainians are very familiar with the music of Italian composers of 19th and 20th centuries, such as Verdi and Puccini; on the other hand, baroque works are less known to the public, although this artistic period contains a lot of cultural heritage of Italy and the entire Europe.

“I am happy and proud to recall the sold out concerts of Baroque Ensemble LaVenexiana in 2012 and 2013, and the ovation Italian artists received after their performances within the First and Second Italia Festival Barocco in 2014 and 2015.

“I am sure that these projects helped to significantly widen the circle of connoisseurs for Italian Baroque in Ukraine. Thus, we decided to organize the third festival of Italian Baroque in May this year, which will be attended by artists already well known to your audience (sopranos Roberta Mameli, Francesca Lombardi Mazzulli; countertenor Raffaele Pe, ensemble LaVenexiana), as well as new, but not less prominent Italian guests.

“Stefano Montanari, an unrivaled virtuoso violinist, has also managed to conquer a huge army of Ukrainian supporters. Being unable to take part at the May festival, he comes to Kyiv on March 18-19 with the ensemble L’Estravagante to conduct master classes for young musicians at the National Music Academy of Ukraine, as well as to give a concert at the National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine. I am certain that the ‘L’arte del Violino’ concert will become another landmark event in the cultural life of Kyiv.”