by InTrieste
From Wednesday, November 13, to Friday, November 15, Trieste’s residents and visitors can attend a series of six concerts—two each evening—free of charge. Featuring performances by students of the Conservatory’s prestigious Second-Level Piano Master program, the festival will offer an evening of varied works by composers such as Bach, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, and Chopin.
The festival serves as both the conclusion of the current biennial program and a bridge to the next, beginning in early 2024. Authorized by Italy’s Ministry of University and Research in 2022, the two-year program is unique in Friuli Venezia Giulia and aims to nurture emerging talent in the classical music world. The festival coincides with the final evaluations of the program’s inaugural class, highlighting the talent and dedication of young pianists who have spent two years in rigorous training under the guidance of Conservatory Director Sandro Torlontano and the distinguished faculty at Tartini’s School of Piano.
Meet the Performers
Each pianist in this diverse group was selected through a highly competitive audition process. The festival’s lineup includes Mattia Groppello from Italy, who graduated with top honors from the A. Steffani Conservatory and has captivated audiences in Italy with performances at Piano City Milano and other noted venues. Joining him on the opening night is Andrej Shaklev from Macedonia, a prizewinner in multiple international competitions. Now completing his studies under the guidance of Teresa Trevisan, Irene Russo, and Luca Trabucco, Shaklev has performed across Europe, bringing his expressive interpretations to audiences in Italy, Austria, and Slovenia.
On Thursday, November 14, audiences will hear Luca Chiandotto, a pianist known for his command and technical prowess, showcased by awards including the 2018 L. Brunelli Award and the 2023 Coimbra World Piano Competition. Joining him will be Kostandin Tashko from Tirana, whose impressive record includes the prestigious Linda Beeley Scholarship at London’s Royal College of Music and appearances in iconic venues such as Vienna’s Musikverein and Venice’s La Fenice Opera House.
The festival’s final night promises to be particularly memorable, with Alessandra Fornasa performing a newly discovered Chopin waltz in A minor, unearthed recently in the Morgan Library & Museum in New York. A graduate of the A. Pedrollo Conservatory and finalist for the Abbado Prize, Fornasa has already built a name for herself in the classical music scene with numerous awards. Accompanying her on the last evening will be Matteo Bevilacqua, who has performed over 100 solo concerts across Europe and the Middle East. His impressive career highlights include a prize from the Carispezia Foundation and performances in celebrated venues like Dubai’s Millennium Amphitheater and Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace.
An Invitation to the Public
Trieste’s cultural life has been enriched by the Tartini Piano Master program, one of only a handful of its kind in Italy, offering third-level education in music performance. Director Torlontano notes that the festival represents a milestone for both the institution and the region, underscoring the Conservatory’s mission to foster a new generation of top pianists.
Residents and tourists alike are encouraged to experience the festival’s three nights of piano mastery at the Tartini Conservatory. Admission is free, though reservations are recommended. Interested attendees may contact the Conservatory at 040.6724911 or visit the Conservatory’s website at infoline conts.it for more information.
