Festivāls Artissimo, Orchestra Filharmonica Italiana (Kamerorķestris) & Marco Albonetti (Saksofons)

“This album is a tribute to the Italian spirit, to my spirit, expressed through a musical journey: it offers Postcards from Italy.”                    Marco Albonetti

 

Film music has been described as the defining new genre of classical music in the twentieth century. It engages both the ear and the heart of an audience. The masterpieces composed by two Italian film composers in particular, Nino Rota and Ennio Morricone, embody the cultural identity of most Italians and they have become recognized and loved by audiences around the world. The “Godfather”, “Amarcord”, “Maléna”, “La Dolce Vita” film themes in this album capture the magical combination of romance, melancholy, friendship, and violence. The notes vibrate with such passion that the compositions continue to engage the listener, bringing the work of these great Italian composers to life wherever and whenever it is performed.

 

Since his highly praised Carnegie Hall début, in New York City, the saxophonist Marco Albonetti has been performing and giving master-classes around the world. His ability to captivate audiences with his charismatic and innovative performances has made him one of the most influential classical saxophone artists of his generation. Though he is classically trained, his style of performance represents a unique blend of dynamic techniques and multifaceted influences.

 

He has appeared at myriad Italian theatres and distinguished international venues, including the Konzerthaus Berlin, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Wiener Saal, in Salzburg, Palau de la Música de València, Palau de la Música Catalana de Barcelona, Teatro Español de Madrid, Theater in der Josefstadt, in Vienna, Sverdlovsk State Philharmonic Hall, in Yekaterinburg, Wits Great Hall, in Johannesburg, Sala Verdi, in Milano, Zhongshan Hall, in Taipei. He has also been awarded first prize at several international solo and chamber music competitions.

 

Concerto performances being at the heart of his career, both at home and abroad, he has enjoyed appearing with such orchestras as Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana, Orchestra da Camera di Mantova, I Virtuosi Italiani, Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali, Roma Sinfonietta, Orchestra Senzaspine, Orchestra Sinfonica della Provincia di Bari, Orchestra della Fondazione Teatro Petruzzelli, National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, St Michel Strings, Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra, Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Maderna, Collegium Musicum Orchestra, and Jackson Symphony Orchestra.

 
OFI represents a new way to intend the concept of 'orchestra'. The ensemble is organized into a cooperative system that includes over 400 high-profile musicians in a unique network, representing a mellow, dynamic and unique professional ensemble in the Italian panorama. OFI counts on hundreds of past exhibitions and production at an international level, interpreting with both passion and method the classical repertoire but, at the same time, adapting perfectly to a wide range of commitments, from Operatic institutions to Italian traditional theatres.

 

The Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana is requested by the major national theatres in many occasions, from musical events broadcasted by the Italian national broadcasting network RAI to Rete Vaticana as well as international channels. up to ballet (Don Quixote, Il Gattopardo, Cenerentola, Giulietta e Romeo). The orchestra collaborates with some of the most prestigious vocal talents in the field (Jessica Prat, Mariella Devia, Raina Kabaivanska, Ghena Dimitrova, Katia Ricciarelli, Josè Carreras, Josè Cura, Renato Bruson, Cecilia Gasdia e Tiziana Fabbricini) and some of the most renowned conductors (Marcello Allemandi, Nello Santi, Marcello Viotti, Yuri Ahronovitch, Marko Letonja, E. Müller, M. Viotti, N. Santi, S. Ranzani, P. G. Morandi, D. Garforth, Y. Ahronovitch, C. Franci, G. Zanaboni, M. Rota, A. Vlad, M. Letonja, G. Veneri, G. Taverna, G. Arena, F. Pantillon, W. Proost). The quality of its interpretations and its versatillity allow OFI to be an outstanding ensemble for the performance of symphonic works of the XVII century as well as contemporary compositions.