|
|
 |
"Pietro
De Maria is one of the most exceptional and brilliant
pianists of his generation. A complete artist
possessor of a fascinating personality, united
to a refine sensitivity and intelligence"
Maria Tipo
After
receiving the Critics' Prize at the Tchaikowsky
Competition in Moscow (1990), De Maria won the
First Prize in other prestigious international
piano competitions, such as the Dino Ciani - Teatro
la Scala, in Milan (1990) and the Geza Anda in
Zurich (1994).
An active
concert pianist, he has performed as soloist with
the Hamburg and Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestras,
the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Camerata Academica
Salzburg, the Bamberger Symphoniker, the Vienna
Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Maggio
Musicale Fiorentino and the RAI National Symphony
Orchestra, with conductors of the stature of Gary
Bertini, Myung Whun Chung, Vladimir Fedoseev,
Alan Gilbert, Marek Janowski, Peter Maag and Sandor
Vegh, and Stefan Sanderling.
De Maria
has appeared at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, the
St. Petersburg Philharmonia, the Theatre du Chatelet
in Paris, La Scala in Milan, Accademia Santa Cecilia
in Rome, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, the Megaron
in Athens , the Sapring Festival of Budapest,
the Bratislava Music Festival, the Mozartfest
in Wurzburg, the Ludwigsburger Schlossfetspiele,
the Sintra Festival, the Newport Music festival
and has toured Germany, giving recitals in Berlin,
Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Leipzig, Munich
and Dusseldorf.
In November
1997 he received the Mendelssohn Award in Germany
for his interpretation of the Piano Concerto No.1
with the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted
by Ingo Metzmacher.
His recording
of three Clementi Piano Sonatas was released by
Naxos on January 2000.
Mr. Pietro
De Maria's appearance at the Fourth Annual Miami
International Piano Festival of Discovery on February
6, 2001, marks his Florida debut.
To contact
Pietro De Maria, e-mail: pietro@miamipianofest.com
or visit www.pietrodemaria.com
Morning Call, Allentown, PA Saturday, February 12, 2005
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
PENNSYLVANIA SINFONIA, PIETRO DE MARIA
When Italian pianist Pietro de Maria played the famed Andante in Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 - dubbed "Elvira Madigan" after a 1967 movie by that name - one could feel in Allentown Symphony Hall the collective breathing of the entire audience. It was a truly magical moment. The 37-year old Venetian brought to the music a light, velvet touch, so refreshingly gentle when compared with pianists who pound mercilessly.
The appearance of de Maria was the pinnacle of an otherwise wonderful concert by the Pennsylvania Sinfonia, guided by Allan Birney. De Maria is a pianist who respects the inner truth of the music he plays. Add to that his flawless technique and natural musicality, and you get the memorable evening we had.
The heartwarming, all-Mozart program opened with the Divertimento K.136. The ensemble's first violin section sounded better than ever, particularly in the Finale. Symphony No. 39 was given a good performance, although the opening Adagio was fast for my taste.
The true magic began when de Maria took center stage. Concluding the K.467 concerto with the playful Allegro vivace assai, the charming Italian responded to enthusiastic "Bravos!" with Liszt's Campanella, proving that he can play big, 19th-century repertoire just as well as he can play the classics. But just in case someone forgot his classical skills, he offered a Scarlatti sonata as a second encore.
... Ian Peleg
Read
more reviews
|
