
A musical journey from Paris to Istanbul
Martina Biondi is one of Italy's most promising young cellists. She graduated with top honors from the Stanislao Giacomantonio Conservatory at the age of 17 before completing her studies in Leipzig and most recently at the HfM Eisler with Nicolas Altstaedt. Prizes at international competitions led her to a guest appearance with Daniel Hope in the Hope@home program on “Arte” in 2020. She recently released her debut CD with the cello suites by Max Reger.
Margherita Santi is a brilliant virtuoso on the piano. She studied in Verona, Rome and Moscow and released her first CD at the age of 15. Over 40 first prizes at international piano competitions testify to her exceptional talent and the Italian TV station described her as an “Italian musical excellence”. She performs throughout Europe both as a soloist and as a chamber musician and is the founder and artistic director of the annual Herbst Musicaux Festival concert series in Verona.
Mar. 05, 2025 - 7:30pm
(doors open 6:45pm)
ORIENT EXPRESS
Paris - Istanbul
Martina Biondi (cello)
Margherita Santi (piano)
Program
F.Chopin: Cello sonata in G-minor op.65
During his lifetime, Chopin composed only 9 works that were not exclusively for piano. The Cello Sonata, an absolute masterpiece written shortly before the end of his life, is one of these exceptions. In it, Chopin stages the cello as a great aria singer, and the never-ending melodies chase each other breathtakingly between cello and piano.
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L.v.Beethoven: 12 variations on
Handels Judas Maccabaeus WoO45
Handel's choral movement “See, the conquering hero comes” soon became very popular after its composition in 1747, but it was not until 80 years later that it was transformed into the famous Advent hymn “Tochter Zion, freue dich”. The first listeners to Beethoven's variations in 1797 therefore had no Christmas associations - on the contrary. In Handel's oratorio, “Judas Maccabaeus”, the song is used by the Jewish women to greet the victorious hero after the battle. Beethoven's variations, on the other hand, are anything but martial, but rather finely graded chamber music with a delicate sound, a real duo work full of surprising derivations.
​A. DvoÅ™ák: Rondo in G minor for cello and piano,
op. 94, B 171
Silent woods op.68/5 B182
Two smaller concert pieces by DvoÅ™ák, which he wrote for a chamber music concert tour. His cellist should be able to show what he can do ...
H.F.Alnar: Cello concerto (3rd mov., Allegro con brio)
One of the best-known works by the Turkish composer and conductor Hasan Ferid Alnar.