SOUNDS OF ITALY

Making his debut in Australia, Andrea Molteni brings a terrific program of Italian and Italy-inspired music in this solo concert, part of the Brisbane Music Festival. Opening with the iconic Italian Concerto in F-major by J. S. Bach, Molteni presents pieces that span 300 years. Each piece shows careful thought that went into its interpretation, making these compositional gems shine under the pianist’s fingers. Here we have the familiar faces of Bach, Scarlatti, and Liszt alongside lesser-known composers to general audiences, such as Luigi Dallapiccola, and Goffredo Petrassi. Overall, the concert is a carefully curated journey through Italy, filled with warmth, passion, and impulse.

Molteni shows beautiful articulation and dynamic shading throughout his playing. His use of pedal in Bach and its Romantic interpretation sets the stage for this pianist, who shines in this personal performance. When Molteni is light, he is intentional. When a piece calls for more drama, his touch is bold, and he easily finds elegant layering in the music, making every note visible. The staccato fire of Dellapiccola’s music reminded me of the passion of Italy, while Pernassi’s pieces revealed emotional virtuosity that is demanding of both the composer and the performer.

This concert grows as it progresses. That is, the timelessness of Bach sets the foundation upon which the music and the pianist journey together to truly find each other by the end of the hour. Molteni “grows” with the music, revealing more and more of himself with every piece. The closing composition is Liszt’s “La Sonnambula.” it is based on Bellini’s operatic work and extends it to the form of a fantasy concerto, blending vocal and orchestral elements into a highly complex piano composition. The young Italian pianist takes on the formidable challenge and executes it masterfully, ending this concert on a real high!

For more of these special music moments, see the December instalment of the Brisbane Music Festival.