Director’s Notes

Dear Friends,

As our current season draws to a close, I am reminded of some of the past highlights, in particular our all-Piazzolla programme with bandoneon virtuoso Daniel Binelli, Polly Ferman and German Guiterrez which drew standing ovations at Sha Tin Town Hall earlier this year. It was an inspiring experience for us to be so close to Piazzolla himself (Daniel Binelli performed with Piazzolla many times), to have played tango arrangements which have never been played before and to have been moved by such incredible music-making. The critic in the South China Morning Post summed it up well, "Every phrase from the Argentine virtuoso burned with emotion". RTHK Radio 4 was there to record the event, so you can listen to the broadcast online by clicking here.

On 6 June, as part of the "Italy 2007: Quality and Lifestyle Festival", we will be paying homage to Sir Francesco Paolo Tosti, arguably the greatest Italian composer of salon music in the nineteenth century. Admired by Puccini, Verdi, Mascagni, Queen Victoria and legendary singers such as Dame Nellie Melba and Enrico Caruso, Tosti’s music and life will be presented in Hong Kong for the first time in a unique salon-style/chamber music setting featuring guest singers and instrumentalists from Italy and the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. Once again we are delighted to work with Luca Ciarla - who will join us as guest concertmaster - and solo guitarist Marco Salcito - who will be arranging all the music for the performance. A photographic exhibition of Tosti's life as well as personal letters from musicians such as Verdi will be on display in the foyer of the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall on the evening of the concert. This special event is co-presented by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the National Tostiano Institute in Ortona, Italy. We are also exceptionally honoured to have Professor Francesco Sanvitale, the leading Tosti scholar and Director of the National Tostiano Institute in Ortona, to give a presentation at the concert. Together with pianist Roberto Rupo (official pianist of the Tosti International Competitions) he will also hold a special master class on Tosti’s songs at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on 5 June at 2 pm.

I do hope you can join us for some "Tostissimo" during the month of June!

Leanne Nicholls
Founder & Artistic Director
City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong

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