REAL Exclusive Magazine

La Musica With Piero Rivolta

Welcome To Our 26th Annual Festival

By Kelly Gettel

Photography by Lemon Tree Photos, Cliff Roles Photography & Bill Somach Photography

An invitation to opera and a chance meeting with distinguished pianist Derek Han inspired Piero Rivolta’s creation, La Musica. Now entering its 26th season, La Musica is firmly established on Sarasota’s cultural calendar at the Sarasota Opera House, and beyond. Critically acclaimed, La Musica’s performers have collaborated with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and have graced the opening of the chamber music season at La Scala, the world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy.

Guided by Artistic Director, Bruno Giuranna and Associate Artistic Director, Derek Han, La Musica’s mission is to bring together the finest musicians from Europe and America to perform exciting programs of familiar and unfamiliar chamber music. La Musica is steered by executive director Sally Faron and a dedicated board of directors, led by Piero Rivolta. Piero leads with, “The concept of La Musica is very simple. Musicians come here from all over the world; they meet each other, and then play together. It’s not a quartet or quintet that plays together all the time. The musicians come here, discuss music and put together a new piece; they are energized. A quartet that goes around playing the same thing, with the same people, doesn’t play with the passion we have at La Musica. That’s what makes La Musica special, the enthusiasm in the music.”

As chamber music La Musica cultivates an intimate relationship between the audience and performers. Typically, chamber music does not utilize many instruments. It may have three to five instruments and usually tops out at ten. Piero shares, “You feel the violin, the cello, and you recognize the voice of each performer because it is not like big symphony music. You can follow the different instruments and the sound is very distinct. It is very alive.” Piero insists La Musica stay true to its roots of bringing new performers together each season. “We have some performers who participate each year, like Bruno and Derek. The rest we may change. One year we invite a certain artist and the next year we have another.” The formula keeps alive the passion and enthusiasm that is La Musica.

When asked what Bruno and Derek bring to La Musica, Piero leans forward and says, “Bruno is a very good teacher and has a magic touch with the performers. He instills a feeling of enthusiasm and draws it out from the young people and that is good. He really creates the atmosphere.” Regarding Derek he adds, “He knows music very well, what works together and will make the right program. It is very important to have the right program. Derek is a very fast thinker in anything he does. He has a very mathematical mind. It’s impressive.”

In putting together a season’s performances Piero communicates with Bruno and Derek his feelings for what the market is, what the people want and what he thinks is pleasant. “I try to explain to them and lead them in a certain direction, to what is good for the upcoming season. In the end they are independent in choosing, I just try to assist.” The chamber music played is varied. Some compositions are very deep, like the ones written during the war. To balance a deep performance La Musica adds something more upbeat at the end. “My feeling is we need to leave an impression of sensation. I believe in simple communication and love. In the end we have to let the people be happy when they go home.”

What also makes La Musica unique are the open rehearsals. From the very first time the performers are on stage you can attend the rehearsals and watch the music come together. The rehearsals take place at the Mildred Sainer Pavilion of New College of Florida. Piero closes with, “My idea was to create something that will remain for a long time. We are one of the best festivals in the world. We have people coming from all over the world just to listen.”

La Musica
(941) 366.8450, ext 3
info@lamusicafestival.org
www.lamusicafestival.org

La Musica 2012 Season

“Something in the Air”

All concerts at the Sarasota Opera House

Artistic Director, Bruno Giuranna
Associate Artistic Director, Derek Han

Violin
Federico Agostini
Anne Schoenholtz
Laura Zarina

Viola
Daniel Avshalomov
Bruno Giuranna
Nokuthula Ngwenyama

Cello
Julie Albers
Emilio Colon
Eric Kim

Double Bass
Dee Moses

Soprano
Dina Kuznetsova

Piano
Derek Han
James Winn

April 5, 2012; 8 p.m.

Mozart: Piano Quartet in G minor, K.478
Shostakovich: Piano Trio in E minor, Op.67
Brahms: String Sextet in B flat major, Op.18

April 9, 2012; 8 p.m.

Beethoven: Piano Trio in D major, Op.70, No.1
Dvorak: String Quintet in E flat major, Op.97
Strauss: Piano Quartet in C minor, Op.13
 
April 12, 2012; 8 p.m.

Beethoven: String Trio, Op.9, No.1
Sierra: Songs from the Diaspora
Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht

April 15, 2012; 2:30 p.m.
 
M. Haydn: Divertimento in C for violin, cello and double bass
Fauré: La Bonne Chanson Op.61
Bruckner: String Quintet in F major

April 18, 2012; 8 p.m.

Mozart: String Quintet in D major, K.593
Martinu: Sonata for two violins and piano, H.213
Fauré: Piano Quartet in G minor, Op.45

La Musica
(941) 366.8450, ext 3
info@lamusicafestival.org
www.lamusicafestival.org

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