Sumptuous harmonies, heart-wrenching melodies, intrigue, comedy, and high drama exemplify the golden age of Italian opera, and nowhere more so than in the work of these three legends: Verdi, Bellini and Rossini. Now, experience pianistic spectacle squared, as not one but two Italian virtuosos take on these masters at the keyboard, bringing you some of the most loved and celebrated operatic music arranged for piano four-hands in an evening of spirit-rousing sound and prodigious showmanship.

PROGRAMME:

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

Nabucco (Overture)

La Traviata (Overture)

La Traviata (Brindisi - Libiamo ne' lieti calici)

The Force of Destiny(Overture)

Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)

Norma (Ouverture)

Norma (Casta Diva)

Interval

Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

The Italian Girl in Algiers (Overture)

The Barber of Seville (Overture)

The Barber of Seville (Largo al factotum)

William Tell (Overture)

Italian pianist Alessandro Licchetta has won numerous national and international competitions and has performed, as a soloist or in chamber ensembles, at various festivals and concert venues, such as the "Festival Terra tra due mari" in Gallipoli at the Castello Angioino; the “Camerata Musicale Salentina” in Castro at the Aragonese Castle; in Galatina “I Concerti del Chiostro” at the Cavallino Bianco Theatre; in Lecce the “Maggio Salentino” at the Apollo Theatre, the “Festival del XVIII Secolo” at the Palmieri Foundation, “Strade Maestre” at the Cantieri Teatrali Koreja; in Martina Franca “Pianolab”. He has also collaborated with the Valente Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Maestro Giuseppe Guida, and with the Balletto del Sud.

In 2021, together with the maestros Enrico Tricarico, Gabriella Stea and Andrea Sequestro, Alessandro created the record publication "Rêve d'amour" dedicated to the piano work of the Gallipoli composers Francesco Luigi Bianco and Angelo Schirinzi. He was Technical Director, on behalf of the Seraphicus association of Nardò, of the first edition of the “Premio Vittoria De Donno” International Music Competition held in Lecce from 4 to 8 June 2018 and is Artistic Director of the Festival del Capo di Leuca and of the events “Parla Piano” and “Piano|Mediano”. He is a founding member and President of the social promotion association Eleusi of Corsano (Italy). Alessandro teaches Piano at the I.C. "TO. De Blasi” of Taviano (Italy). In addition to his musical studies, he obtained a Master's Degree in Law from the University of Salento and subsequently the qualification to practice law.

Andrea Sequestro has enjoyed success at many competitions including at the International Music Competition "Erik Satie" of Lecce, the International Music Competition "La Vallonea" in Tricase (LE), the International Music Competition "Le Nouveau Jongleur" of Ruffano (LE) , the International Music Competition "Salento Music Competition" and "Le Nouveau Jongleur" of Ruffano, and the “ Concorso Nazionale Premio Musica Italia” of Barletta, il "Magnificat Lupiae" of Lecce. Andrea received his Bachelor Degrees in Piano with full marks ,honors and mention from both the “Tito Schipa” Conservatory of Lecce and the" T. Schipa” Conservatory of Lecce. He is currently attending the piano specialization course at the Musical Academy of Pescara under the guidance of Maestro Pasquale Iannone. He has performed in various festivals and concert institutions, such as the "Tithonos Festival" in Vaste (LE); in Lecce the "Maggio Salentino" at the Apollo Theater, the "18th Century Festival" at the Palmieri Foundation, "Strade Maestre" at the Cantieri Teatrali Koreja, “Classiche Forme” in Lecce under the artistic direction of Beatrice Rana, "Tempo di musica" in Galatone, Fundacion Eutherpe in Leon (Spain).

Andrea has also collaborated with con il M° Corrado De Bernart in the realization of a series of conferences on the life of Gioachino Rossini, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the disappearance of the composer through the execution of transcriptions for four hands of the most famous Rossinian overtures, and on the American musical scene of the XVII-XIX century, placing particular focus on the music of Louis Moreau Gottschalk, ragtime and George Gershwin. He is a founding member and secretary of the Association Eleusi of Corsano (Lecce).

Book your tickets here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-musical-legacy-of-eta-hoffmann-pianist-cristian-sandrin-tickets-841506056267?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

The World of E.T.A. Hoffmann | Cristian Sandrin, piano recital

Get ready for an enchanting evening at the National Liberal Club aa pianist and co-artistic director, Cristian Sandrin, takes you on a mesmerizing journey into The World of E.T.A. Hoffmann. Prepare to be captivated by haunting music inspired the mysterious tales of Hoffmann. Sandrin will transport you to a realm where music and storytelling intertwine in perfect harmony, where the music of R. Schumann, P. Grainger, J. Brahms and P.I.Tchaikovski is revealed in conjuction with the fantastic imaginary of E.T.A. Hoffmann's world.

Join us for this extraordinary event in the extraordinary venue of the National Liberal Club in Central London.

Programme:

P. Grainger: Flowers Waltz

E.T.A. Hoffmann: Sonata

J. Brahms: Four Ballades op. 10

-interval-

P.I.Tchaikovsky (arr. Pletnev): Nutcracker Suite

R. Schumann: Kreisleriana

Join us for our first lunchtime piano recital at the National Liberal Club with eminent students from the Westminster School:

Eliza Ruffle playing Chopin’s Ballade No 3 in A flat, Op 47

Ethan Wu playing Liszt’s Ballade No 2 in B minor, S. 171

Shutian Cheng playing Chopin’s Ballade No 4 in F minor, Op 52

Join pianist and co-Artistic Director of the Kettner Society on a rich musical journey through 19th Century currents, revolving around Italy

Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt, forerunners of the Romantic generation of composers nurtured a very intimate connection with the Italian lands, their people and music: Chopin's fascination of the bel canto and the operas of Bellini, Liszt's travels through the country and the creation of Anées des Pélérinage. Conversely, we discover a later generation of Italian composers, Sgambati and Martucci, whose music is highly influenced by the works of Chopin and Liszt.

Repertoire:

F. Liszt - Two Petrarch Sonnets from Années des Pélérinage: Italie

G. Sgambati: Notturno op. 31

G. Martucci: Notturno op. 70 no. 1

F. Chopin: Ballade no. 3 in A flat major op. 47

F. Chopin: Ballade no. 4 in F minor op. 52

-interval-

F. Chopin: Piano Sonata in B minor op. 58

Violinist Fiona Robertson and pianist Philip Sharp present an eclectic programme of Beethoven, Ravel and Prokofiev. Both recipients of numerous significant prizes and scholarships, since studying together at Chetham’s School of Music the pair have gone on to achieve acclaim both individually and as a duo. Beethoven’s dramatic and challenging Kreutzer Sonata, the inspiration for Tolstoy’s eponymous novella, comprises the first half of this ambitious programme, while the second half transports us into the 20th century with Ravel’s jazzy Violin Sonata No.2 and Prokofiev’s hauntingly lyrical Five Melodies.

Programme:

Beethoven: Kreutzer Sonata

- Interval -

Ravel: Violin Sonata No. 2

Prokofiev: Five Melodies