MUSIC ART PARK FVG_Day 1_Art Park (Collezione Egidio Marzona), Verzegnis (Ud), Italy_23:06:2018_© Francesco Zanet_0322

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John Cage: Water Walk and Sounds of Venice – video

In 1959 John Cage was in Italy. Some Italian composer friends suggested him to partecipate as a mushroom expert to the popular tv quiz “Lascia o raddoppia” led by Mike Bongiorno (here more info in Italian and English). For the occasion he wrote and premiered “Water Walk” and “Sounds of Venice”, for solo television performer. One year later he performed Water Walk again in United States, at the TV show “I’ve Got A Secret” – with some last-minute changes in the original score due to a trade union strike.
Unfortunately the video of Radio Televisione Italiana with the first performance is not available anymore.
In 2018 I performed in Venice and then in Art Park Verzegnis both “Water Walk” and “Sounds of Venice”, in collaboration with the European project Ecouter le monde, led by RFI and an international network of cultural stakeholders. This repertoire sounds very appropriate for a project that “has an ambition: to develop the practice, the meaning, and the pleasure of listening.”
Below are the two video documentations of the pieces.

Credits:
with Veniero Rizzardi – direction, Paolo Zavagna – sound projection, Claudio Bellini, Giovanni Dinello and Riccardo Sellan – technical and logistic support
Many thanks to Alberta Ziche for the video editing and Claudia Chiggio and Roberto Tonon for the video shooting.

A.Toniutti – J. Cage, Water Walk, for solo television performer (1959)

A.Toniutti – J. Cage, Sounds of Venice, for solo television performer (1959)


250-Cardini

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Giancarlo Cardini: Lento trascolorare, piano music available on line and in store

Despite we’re definitely living in “interesting times”, as Venice Biennale 2019 seemed to foresee, music finds its way.
My new recording Giancarlo Cardini: Lento trascolorare, piano music is finally available on line at Da Vinci Classics website, and from June, 12th on digital distribution (iTunes, Amazon, etc) and in store. 
On the playlist four unreleased pieces, “Via del Fico, Firenze. Una piccola strada disadorna, silenziosa, quasi immota, arida e bella” (2011), “Tre momenti di sessualità infantile” (2007), “Terza Fantasia, ad Agnese Toniutti” (2018) and a new version of “Foglie d’autunno lentamente trascolorano” (1983, rev. 2018), together with the fascinating “Rituals for the Ryoanji Garden” for piano, gong and voice (2012) and “Una notte d’inverno” (1982) (preview here and below).
The booklet offers a writing by Giancarlo Cardini himself about his music. On the cover a picture by Enzo Della Monica taken during one of Cardini’s performances in the 80ies, part of the artist book Bolle di sapone/Soap bubbles (G. Cardini – Bolle di sapone, Centro Di, Firenze 1991). Inside some shots by the photographer Alberto Moretti.
The piano is a Steinway & Sons B-211 dated 1890, restored by Steinway Academy technician Lorenzo Cerneaz, with a magnificent sound, rich in resonance.
It’s a joy to finally see the first public (virtual but real) appearance of a project about music that I love. Let’s hope these sounds will have a long life, generous as they are in peaceful colours!

“…  there is a (contemplative) process absorbed with the rational calmness of those who practice the voluptuousness of critical thinking. […] And Toniutti is really good at returning these impressions and sensations.”
Mario Gamba, Alias – Il Manifesto, 16/5/2020

“Beyond time and space. […] spirals of enchanting repetitions that run alongside the silence, of expressive modesty in peace with the world. These Zen meditations progress lightly away from the care of the present, with a placid, ceremonial step, even without ever really advancing towards a specific goal. […] the album is in all respects (Cardini’s) portrait, light, intimate […]”
Gregorio Moppi, la Repubblica, 15/6/2020

Interview with Paolo Cantarutti, Radio Onde Furlane (Italian/Furlan): Lento trascolorare cun Agnese Toniutti
“A very beautiful CD, with music made up of consonances and soft dissonances that fade into each other, just like the title, and above all with a beautiful sound, with this old Steinway piano from 1890 with its so particular harmonics.”

“Giancarlo Cardini, the unrepeatable moment  – 
Pianist Agnese Toniutti in Lento Trascolorare reads with extraordinary depht piano compositions by the Tuscan composer”.
Review and interview by Paolo Carradori , il Giornale della Musica, 2/7/2020, (article in italian)

“… pages […] that the virtuoso pianist Agnese Toniutti expresses enphasizing the lyrical constructivist scattered between note and note.”
Guido Michelone, Alias – il Manifesto, 11/07/2020

“Giancarlo Cardini/Agnese Toniutti, Lento trascolorare piano music
Cardini entrusted to play some of his composition pianist Agnese Toniutti, who gave evidence of extraordinary accuracy and depht, capable as few others to recognize and enhance the implications and nuances of Cardini’s thought.”
Enzo Boddi, Musica Jazz, 12/07/2020 (italian)

“For Cardini’s 80th birthday, a critical contribution and a review of Agnese Toniutti’s cd
[…] Toniutti is good at grasping the very slow transfigurations, the subtle nuances, highlighting mottled dissonances or sweet consonances, the evocation of nature, the sense of mystery, the rituality of the gesture, returning us in a ‘cardinian sound’, possible only if the the interpreter adheres with participation to a completely personal and vaguely arcane (musical) world like that of Cardini’s music. An excellent example of how it should work.”
Renzo Cresti, www.renzocresti.com, 25/07/2020

“[…] it’s up to the interpreter – the talented pianist Agnese Toniutti – to bring out the most minute details and the most hidden expressive nuances, jealously guarded, but still eager to be shared with the listener.”
Filippo Focosi, Kathodik, 15/10/2020

Interview with Luisa Antoni, Radio Capodistria – Sonoramente classici, 26/7/2020 (podcast): Agnese Toniutti e Giancarlo Cardini

Interview with Marco Maria Tosolini, RAI Radio Uno – Il concerto che vorrei 5/9/2020 (podcast): Playing with…il gioco nella musica
“I recommend this cd […] whose songs induce a state of profound pacification“

Interview with Luca Berni, Rete Toscana Classica – Cronache musicali 9/9/2020 (podcast): Nuovi Album di Agnese Toniutti e Alberto Bocini
“A valuable publication […] the listener is engaged in a sort of walking journey within the music. In this moment we may need a music that is so rarefied but very present and very alive, which speaks to us of today, of our time. It is a very special record, let me tell you, it is a record that requires work from the listener, which requires attention.”

RAI Radio Tre – Battiti 24/9/2020 (podcast): Lento trascolorare

 


Salotto Musicale FVG front

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Cage, Rauschenberg, Cunningham and Living Theatre in Udine

Extraordinary opening of the year with Salotto Musicale del Friuli Venezia Giulia 6th concert series: on January 11th in Udine – Libreria Martincigh,  presentation of the 2019/20 season with Gary Brackett – Living Theatre Europe, and on January 18th in Villa Aurora – Fagagna, concert with music by John Cage and works of art by Bob Rauschenberg and Merce Cunningham. A great start for a new season featuring also music by Lucia Dlugosewski, Alan Hovhaness, György Kurtág and many others.
Below a TV news interview (in Italian) about the program. 


Panorama Cardini

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Giancarlo Cardini’s recording coming soon

Beginning of Autumn dedicated to the music of Giancarlo Cardini, working with the composer himself and recording in studio on a marvellous resounding Steinway B dated 1860, restored by Cerneaz Pianoforti – Official Steinway Dealer. The recording, including three unedited pieces, will be released at the beginning of 2020. Below, the inspiringly silent view from Cardini’s studio, in the Tuscan countryside, and some pics from the recording session (thanks to Luca Piovesan, sound engineer and… photographer.)

The view (and silence) of Tuscan countryside from Cardini’s studio

Playing the marvellous Steinway B dated 1860, restored by Cerneaz Pianoforti…

…and the impressive gong by AltrOnde/Stefano Dalan. Plenty of beautiful sounds!


Giacinto / Scelsi piano and voices

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Giacinto Scelsi in Paris

Thrilled to play Giacinto Scelsi‘s piano music in Paris, the city that first recognized and supported his music. First concert on the 21st May at the intimate and refined Galerie Hus, then at the coloured and lively Pavillon Le Corbusier – Fondation Suisse on the 24th. As often, the recorded reading voice was by the film author Sebastiano D’Ayala Valva. Below some pics.

at Galerie Hus – pic Alice Boeri

Lovely drawing by Maryam Geravandi and Tristan Cormier on the Galerie program notes, inspired by music.

Pavillon Le Corbusier – Fondation Suisse: playing immersed in colour, design and nature

 


SATIE-WEB

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Fluxus in Trieste

Fluxus arrived in Trieste on May 11th, during the 28th edition of Satierose Festival at Teatro Miela.
Surrounded by the exhibition Satieflux curated by Sara Codutti and Cristina Burelli – Libreria Martincigh, and the humorous “furniture music” chairs created by artists and creative people who answered the call of curator Eleonora Cedaro and Teatro Miela, I premiered A really lovely piece made for & by Agnese by Philip Corner (video), together with music by Shiomi, Higgins, Corner, Glass and of course… Satie (here the programme).
Inbetween, extracts from “Boredom and Danger” by Higgins and from an interview by Mieko Shiomi at MoMA.

Listening with Satie in background, before the piece of Philip Corner… (pic: Eleonora Cedaro)

…and smelling the Krapfenpouff from Lella Varesano – yes, real fresh krapfen.


THE FIRST MOTION OF THE IMMOVABLE

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The first motion of the immovable – Pordenone

It was a pleasure to introduce Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva’s documentary on Giacinto Scelsi “The first motion of the immovable” with some piano music by the composer last Friday, April 12th. The film, winner at Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival and Torino Film Festival, was part of the XIIth edition of Le Voci dell’inchiesta, a documentary film festival held in Pordenone (Italy). Here are some pics and a short video of the event.

With Sebastiano D’Ayala Valva and Riccardo Costantini
pics by Elisa Caldana, courtesy of Le voci dell’inchiesta

Daily LeVoci dell'Inchiesta – 12 aprile 2019

Workshop, concerti, anteprime nazionali per la terza giornata di festival nel nostro Daily! ?Le Voci dell'Inchiesta -12a Edizione- 10►14 aprile 2019? Acquista il tuo biglietto qui: https://cinemazero.18tickets.it/voci-inchiesta

Pubblicato da Le Voci dell'Inchiesta su Sabato 13 aprile 2019

E’ stato un piacere introdurre al pianoforte la proiezione dell’intenso documentario di Sebastiano D’Ayala Valva su Giacinto Scelsi, “The first motion of the immovable”, il 12 Aprile a Pordenone. Il film è stato proiettato per il Festival del documentario internazionale Le Voci dell’inchiesta, organizzato da Cinemazero e alla sua dodicesima edizione.


pc7rnA7zi

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Women in March

In March two concerts focussed on the work of women composers.
On the 10th of March the performance for Camino deGenere Festival at Camino al Tagliamento (Udine, Italy): music by Fanny Mendellsohn, Alina Piechowska, Giovanni Vannoni, Caterina Venturelli, Stathis Gyfthakis, Mieko Shiomi. On the 15th an other step in my research on connections between men and women composers at Salotto Musicale del Friuli Venezia Giulia: a first encounter with Lucia Dlugoszewski‘s music for timber piano, together with pieces by John Cage for prepared piano (and not).

A marzo due concerti a forte percentuale femminile: il 10 marzo ore 17.30 per il festival Camino deGenere (un nome, un programma…) a Camino al Tagliamento (Ud), con musiche di Fanny Mendellsohn, Alina Piechowska, Giovanni Vannoni, Caterina Venturelli, Stathis Gyfthakis, Mieko Shiomi. Il 15 marzo ore 21 una nuova tappa della ricerca di connessioni tra compositori e compositrici per il Salotto Musicale del Friuli Venezia Giulia: una serata dedicata ai newyorkesi Lucia Dlugoszewski e John Cage, inventori rispettivamente del timber piano e del pianoforte preparato (e non solo!).

 

 

Camino de Genere Festival, 8th-10th March 2019

Salotto Musicale del Friuli Venezia Giulia, 15th March 2019


    usa piano

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    Giacinto Scelsi in U.S.A.

    Very excited to bring some piano music of Giacinto Scelsi in Texas, USA! From February 18th, recitals and lectures in Denton, Fort Worth and Austin. More details on the Events Page. Below, some pics and a live recording from Denton’s recital, in the perfectly resounding Voertman Concert Hall of UNT with the great Steinway “hybrid” piano by Cyrillus Aerts.

    Pronta a volare negli Stati Uniti con la musica per pianoforte di Giacinto Scelsi! Concerti e conferenze a partire dal 18 febbraio a Denton, Fort Worth and Austin, Texas. Tutti i dettagli nella pagina degli Eventi,  Sotto, alcune foto del tour e un’estratto dal concerto nell’acustica perfetta della Voertman Concert Hall a Denton, con il meraviglioso Steinway ibrido di Cyrillus Aerts.

    With the friends of Fogolar Furlan Southwest/Dallas after the recital with music and writings by Giacinto Scelsi at UNT in Denton (reading voice: S. D’Ayala Valva). Pic: Heidi Dietrich Klein

    At TCU in Fort Worth: lecture-performance “The piano music of Giacinto Scelsi”.

    In Austin at UT Austin, lecture-performance “The Amateur composer: Giacinto Scelsi and his piano music”. Pics by Andrew R Stoltz

     


    A.Toniutti at Scelsi Foundation in Rome

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    Bon anniversaire, Giacinto – Rome

    Great opportunity to spend some time at Isabella Scelsi Foundation in Rome! On 8th January, Scelsi’s anniversary of birth, I performed a programme with his piano music and extracts from his poetic and biographical texts, playing one of the two instruments of the composer, a Bechstein grand piano. Then I dedicated some days to research at Scelsi Foundation Archive.

    With Irmela Heimbacher, President of Scelsi Foundation (pic courtesy of Alessandra Carlotta Pellegrini)

    Un’emozione suonare sul Bechstein di Giacinto Scelsi l’8 gennaio 2019, nel giorno del suo anniversario di nascita, alla Fondazione Isabella Scelsi di Roma! In programma una performance con brani pianistici del compositore più registrazioni di estratti dai suoi testi poetici e biografici. E poi, qualche giorno di ricerca in archivio.

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