Sgambati: Sinfonia festiva & Piano Concerto Massimiliano Damerini, Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma & Francesco La Vecchia

• Giovanni Sgambati (1841 - 1914): Sinfonia festiva:
• 1 Sgambati: Sinfonia festiva 09:01
• Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 15:
• 2 Sgambati: Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 15: I. Moderato maestoso 23:43
• 3 Sgambati: Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 15: II. Romanza. Andante sostenuto 06:17
• 4 Sgambati: Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 15: III. Allegretto animato 11:16
• Total Runtime 50:17

Info for Sgambati: Sinfonia festiva & Piano Concerto

Giovanni Sgambati led the revival of Italian orchestral music during the late 19th century. He was a favourite student of Liszt, admired by Wagner, and a pivotal figure in the emancipation of his country's music from the dominance of bel canto opera. The Piano Concerto in G minor is a stirring and inventive work signalling a new beginning for Italian piano music on the international stage. It offers a synthesis of the possibilities of the genre, evoking Liszt, Brahms and Tchaikovsky, as Sgambati constantly transforms his thematic material to heroic effect. Sinfonia festiva is a short, confidently written work inspired by the dance-like character of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony.

Massimiliano Damerini, piano
Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma
Francesco La Vecchia, conductor

Massimiliano Damerini
was a renowned Italian pianist and composer. His piano repertoire was vast – ranging from the 18th century to contemporary works – and composers such as Salvatore Sciarrino, Andrea Ferrante, Roberto Carnevale and Vittorio Fellegara dedicated pieces to him.

Damerini completed his musical studies in his native Genoa with Alfredo They and Martha Del Vecchio, graduating in piano and composition.

Regarded as one of the leading interpreters of his generation, he played in some of the most important theatres and concert halls in the world, including the Konzerthaus in Vienna, the Barbican in London, La Scala in Milan, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Salle Gaveau in Paris, Victoria Hall in Geneva, the Tonhalle in Zurich and the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid.

As soloist, he collaborated with orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the orchestras of WDR, NDR and SWF in Germany, the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome and the Orquesta Nacional de Espana, among many others.

Damerini also took part in many international festivals and in 1992 he was awarded Italy’s prestigious Franco Abbiati Prize for concert artist of the year.

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