Lectures and Special Masterclasses

STEP 1

Virtuoso&Belcanto completes its educational offerings with conferences, lectures and special masterclasses open to the public. In addition to the main series, other events may be added. This page will be constantly updated.

Also in 2025, Virtuoso&Belcanto will host musician and actress Hildegard De Stefano to continue a project of enhancing women’s musical production, which is a common thread of the Virtuoso&Belcanto Festival. In addition to the repertoire of female composers scattered throughout the concert program, three lectures in Italian, with English translation, are offered:

• July 30^th: Hildegard de Bingen, being a female composer and musician in the past
• July 31^st: Nadia Boulanger, being a female composer and musician in the 20th century
• August 1^st: Paola Prestini, being a female composer and musician today

A special focus (in English) given by pianist Yejin Gil in three thematic appointments. Contemporary V&B students can actively participate in the masterclasses.

Etudes by Unsuk Chin and György Ligeti are not only performed to improve one’s piano technique but more importantly to challenge ourselves and explore the limitless possibilities the instrument offers. The goal is not only to read the music, practice and perform it, but also to appreciate the stories behind the pieces, overcome the skills needed to play them and enjoy the infinite colours created by the various voices.

During the course, we will engage in the following discussions:

• July 22^nd: What did both composers intend to convey through these piano etudes?
• July 23^rd: New approach to contemporary piano techniques
• July 24^th: An exploration of musical colours. How can we develop our listening skills in relation to this complex music?

The exploration of the contemporary piano repertoire continues with Professor Joanna MacGregor. A cycle of three public masterclasses in English, open to the active participation of Contemporary V&B students.

• July 29^th: a look at the piano music by Olivier Messiaen, with particular reference to movements from Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus and Catalogue d’oiseaux.
• July 30^th: Extended techniques. A session exploiting plucking, harmonics and gentle preparations inside the piano. Specific focus on movements from John Cage’s Sonata and Interludes, George Crumb’s A Little Suite for Christmas AD 1979 and Fazil Say’s Black Earth.
• July 31^st. Jazz Styles. Looking at jazz rhythm and harmony in classical music. We’ll consider repertoire including works by Frederic Rzewski, Alberto Ginastera, Nikolaj Girševič Kapustin, Earl Wild on George Gershwin, as well as jazz transcriptions.

For many years now, Virtuoso&Belcanto has had the honor of hosting two legends of 20^th-century music: Alfred Brendel and Bruno Giuranna. Both will hold public masterclasses dedicated to chamber music, on dates yet to be defined. The groups participating in the masterclasses will be selected directly by the Maestros from among the ensembles admitted to the Chamber Music Class.

On Saturday, August 2^nd we will host cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, former member of the Kronos Quartet and one of the most innovative and versatile musicians of our time. It will be an all-round interview, exploring current trends in contemporary classical music between Europe and the United States, hearing the voice of one of the protagonists.