Brunello & Lucchesini’s 30th Anniversary La Pergola Concert

Mario Brunello

Two renowned musicians – cellist Mario Brunello and pianist Andrea Lucchesini – will celebrate their 30th year of performances together in addition to a strong friendship with a special concert at Teatro della Pergola on December 16 at 9 pm.

The duo will be interpreting late 19th century music, including the Sonata in A Major by César Franck, originally composed for violin and piano, and Chopin’s Sonata op. 65 for cello and piano, one of the very few of the composer’s chamber repertoire, which he wrote for a cellist friend, Auguste-Joseph Franchomme.

The program also offers early 20th century pieces, such as Pohádka (or: Fairy Tale) for cello and piano by Czech composer Leoš Janáček, which was inspired by a 19th century Russian poem, and songs in the French classical style, transcribed for the cello and piano, by Reynaldo Hahn, a Venezuelan-born musician who lived in Paris, studying at the conservatory.

The Pergola headliners met in Tuscany in 1989, both having won important music competitions, and begin to study Beethoven’s repertoire for violin and piano.  Brunello and Lucchesini subsequently on the first of many tours together, and continued to explore chamber music competitions designed for the piano and cello.  Their recitals have often had guest appearances by other musicians, singers and actors in an interdisciplinary approach which has always characterized their work, in addition to an evident joy in playing music together. 

Brunello & Lucchesini’s 30th Anniversary La Pergola concert is under the auspices of the Amici della Musica; tickets can be purchased at Teatro della Pergola or through Box Office.