The Modern Piano Player

Cristiana Pegoraro plays Lincoln Center

You can't mess with the modern piano player (let's just say it's a "she"). She plays the repertoire she wants, doesn't care for official's expectations and manages her own affairs. The modern piano player has a lion's heart for the music and a cat's heart for the subtle semitones. The modern piano player composes her own pieces and heads her own label, so as not to be dependent on the wicked and old-fashioned ways of the tradional record companies. Cristiana Pegoraro is such a modern piano player.

And she has some exciting news to boot: On October 30th, she will play the Lincoln Center for the tenth time, presenting a program called "Music for Peace". For years now, Cristiana has encouraged the work of Amnesty and slightly less familiar organisations such as Emergency (an Italian foundation aimed at helping victims of war and especially of landmines) and this active assistance is now culminating in an evening that tries to bring musical styles together in that very same spirit of love. There will be Classical Music (Schubert, Liszt, Beethoven), Jazz (Chick Corea's "Children's Song"), Tango (Piazolla) and some of Pegoraro's own pieces (including a world premiere of "Colors of Love"). During the concert, Cristiana will be awarded the first "Circolo Culturale Italiano of the United Nations World Peace Award" (you can tell by its length that it's important) for "her professional achievements and her commitment in promoting peace in the world". That's a justified reward for an artists who has paid far more than just lip service to charity. Ticket prices are $25 or $35, with students' admission at $15. Don't miss it!

In further news, Pegoraro also releases her new album, already number 19 in her extensive catalogue. Published on her own Diva Label, the disc contains "Music and Dance from Naples to Buenos Aires" and features Gennaro Desiderio (Violin) and Pino Passante (arrangements). "Passion" is, as always with this modern piano player, a work with many layers: It works on a pure musical level, with some fiery and whole-heartedly delivered tangos. But then, it's also an historical work that discloses the connections between Naples and Buenos Aires - another journey to Pegoraro's Italian roots, to the souls of her immigrant ancestors.

So now you have two ways to find out about the modern piano player: Seeing her live or listening to her recordings. As a modern listener, you might even want to get rid of the usual dilemmas of choice and do both.

Homepage: Cristiana Pegoraro
Homepage: Licoln Center