On Sunday 22nd September, internationally renowned pianist Frederico Colli gave a recital to mark the arrival of the Fazioli grand piano in School Hall. Colli was the winner of the Salzburg Mozart Competition and The Leeds International Piano Competition in 2012, a prize won by the likes of Murray Perahia and András Schiff. Since then, Colli has featured alongside Lang Lang, Martha Agerich, Leonids Kavakos and Sakari Oramo, now Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Colli’s first set of pieces by Scarlatti were most notable for their interpretation of pedalling and dynamics. Scarlatti wrote for the harpsichord which was lacking both in a pedal and a variety of dynamics; it takes a great depth of understanding to perform such pieces on a piano in a way that is true to its period, while also providing a fresh take. Following the Scarlatti, Colli played Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight’ sonata. This well-known piece was mesmerising through a combination of the sonorous piano and Colli’s singing touch. Personally, the highlight of the performance was Bach’s Chaconne. The different ideas in the piece were markedly contrasted; the quite sections’ lightness was encapsulating while the loud sections’ bravado was enthralling.
Fazioli is recognised as being one of the most exclusive piano-makers, producing only one hundred and forty pianos a year. Each piano takes two to three years to be made and has a unique soundboard made from Italian red spruce that gives the Fazioli a sound that is startlingly pure and and bright. Eton is immensely fortunate to possess such a piano and it will be frequently played throughout the year, and in particular for the school concerts at the end of each half
Alexander Finlayson-Brown JRBS
