The Goldberg Variations BWV 988, is a work written by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form. The Variations are named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may have been the first performer.
Performed by
Francesco Attesti (Cortona, June 6, 1975) is an Italian pianist of international acclaim. Among his generation of musicians, he is considered one of the finest interpreters of the Romantic and early Twentieth Century Repertoire.
He began practicing the piano at the age of 6 and gave his first concert at 11, performing a transcription of the Toccata and Fugue in D minor by J. S. Bach. When Francesco was 16, he met Sergio Perticaroli who, impressed by the youth’s capabilities at the piano, invited him to attend the Summer Masterclass at the Mozarteum of Salzburg. There, Francesco was immersed in the Romantic repertoire, particularly the works of Chopin and Liszt. He continued to study with Maestro Perticaroli for several years in Rome, refining his skills and winning several national and international piano competitions, including: Ibla Grand Prize International, F.I.D.A.P.A. Competition, Città di Racconigi, Migliori Diplomati d’Italia, Rovere d’Oro, Città di Cesenatico.
The Swiss Ursula Stroher Stiftung sponsorship for talented young people was conferred on Francesco Attesti from 2003-2005.
In 1998, studying with Maestro Luigi Tanganelli at the “L. Cherubini” Conservatory of Florence, Francesco earned the highest grades in piano bestowed by that institution. Soon thereafter, he attended masterclasses with Jacques Rouvier (1998) and Hector Moreno (1999, 2000). With Maestro Moreno, he explored the chamber repertoire for piano, as well as several contemporary composers.
Francesco’s first opportunity to record a CD came in 1998 when the “Rugginenti Editore” label asked him to record contemporary music ,the text being Edoardo Sanguineti’s poetry. Since then, there have been many recordings on several labels, such as “Agorà”, “Max Research”, “Drycastle”. Some have been collaborations with such contemporary composers as Silvia Bianchera Bettinelli, Biagio Putignano, Raoul De Smet. The epitome of Francesco’s collaborative work to date is his performance with the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra of Prague, performing the Italian premiere of “Chiavi in Mano” by the Pulitzer Prize winning composer Yehudi Wyner.
In 2007, together with organist, colleague and friend Matteo Galli, he published the first recording of Verdi’s Requiem, transcribed for piano and organ, on the “Le Voci della Citta” label. At the beginning of 2008, Francesco produced a CD on the “Drycastle” label called “Feeling Chopin”. That work was devoted entirely to the great Polish composer. In 2013, with "Drycastle", he published a new CD, "Virtuoso Sentimento", with works by Bach, Schubert and Beethoven. In 2014, with the same label, he published a CD with clarinet player Pietro Tagliaferri entitled “’900, French repertoire for clarinet and piano.” At the beginning of 2016, he recorded a DVD with title “Deeply Mozart” featuring piano concerto KV 449 and KV 488 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with Orchestra OIDA of Arezzo and conductor Paolo Belloli. In 2020 he released a Jazz/Progressive CD with AB&C trio presenting works by Bach with title “Stairway to Bach”.
In 2012 he was awarded as "Artist changing lives" by the city of Edinburg (Texas - USA) and the city of Diamante (Argentina) conferred him the honorary citizenship. In 2013, McAllen (Texas - USA), and in 2015 the city of Hornell (New York – USA) conferred him the "Key to the City" for his artistry and human skills.
Always drawn to the perfection of phrasing and the sound of the instrument, he has developed very special and unique expressions. Maestro Perticaroli himself has said: “Francesco Attesti’s piano playing is unusual. Everything that happens in the sound, in the phrasing, and in the musical conception, starts from an aesthetic and musical conviction and it brings the performance out of every formal and consumistic prevision.”
Currently, Francesco Attesti performs regularly in internationally prestigious concert halls in over 40 countries in the world.
Press Reviews:
“Francesco Attesti’s piano playing is unusual. Everything that happens in the sound, in the phrasing, and in the musical conception, starts from an aesthetic and musical conviction and it brings the performance out of every formal and consumistic prevision.” (Sergio Perticaroli - Concertist, Teacher, Vice President Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia di Roma)
..."It went totally beyond my expectations. Francesco's music has a way of speaking to your heart. I've never heard the Chopin sonata played with more passion and tenderness. The whole world should be hearing his music..." (Ann Stevens - Artist manager)
....He was a master during his piano solos. He captured the moods of Brahms' Intermezzo and the power of Chopin's Ballade in G minor. Attesti seems to relish pieces of extraordinary difficulty, playing with confidence and passion that charms the most demanding critics and concert-goers around the world... (Lake City Journal, FL, USA - Karl Burkhardt)
The Sound of a genius! The eminent pianist Francesco Attesti enchanted concertgoers on Sunday at Fangor Manor in the Botanical Gardens at Powsin. (Elzbieta Skonleczna - Warsaw Gazeta)
Francesco Attesti is an extraordinary professional who greatly combines musicality and enormous talent, all of which makes him belong to the elite of the young Italian concertists. (Hector Moreno – Concert pianist)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This concert is presented by the Embassy of Italy, Teatru Manoel and the Italian Cultural Institute.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
