Angela Hewitt: Trasimeno Festival 2009

Dear Friends,

This year we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Trasimeno Music Festival. It is an exciting landmark, not just to look back and realize all that has been accomplished so far, but to look forward to what might be possible in the future if the festival keeps growing in the way it has already.

For the occasion I have put together a programme of seven concerts that cannot fail to delight our listeners while at the same time enriching their musical perspectives. It is not satisfying enough for me just to present old favourites (although there are certainly many of those including two Mozart piano concertos, the Bach Double Concerto for oboe and violin, not to mention the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes), but to also give the public the chance to hear things in combinations that are uncommon in concert halls around the world. My choice of artists is in many cases directly linked to the repertoire: we have Dame Felicity Lott, one of the greatest exponents of the French song repertoire, singing Poulenc, Debussy, Hahn, and Satie, and my former teacher at theUniversity of Ottawa, French pianist Jean-Paul S�villa, joining me in works for piano duet by Ravel and Debussy. Dame Ann Murray will show why she is considered one of the top H�ndel interpreters of our time, singing arias from three of his operas. Italian violinist Giovanni Angeleri, winner of the 1997 Paganini Competition, will reveal his virtuosity in music of that composer, but also his natural flair for the classics in works of Bach and Beethoven. I am particularly pleased this year to welcome the finest chamber orchestra in Italy, the Orchestra da Camera di Mantova under their leader Carlo Fabiano. Their participation in the concerts in Perugia and Gubbio will make for two thrilling concerts, I am sure. Tenor Philip Langridge, baritone Neal Davies, flautist Giampaolo Pretto, and cellist Francesco Pepicelli will also grace our stage with their presence.

For the first time we are also offering a literary event, though with a musical theme. Ian McEwan, one of the most celebrated writers of today, will discuss how music is essential to his life and the role it plays in his works. The host of the lecture will be radio broadcaster Eric Friesen, beloved by all Canadians.

Besides the music, we offer daily sightseeing excursions to the beautiful hilltop towns of Umbria, gourmet meals, and accommodation in the centre of Perugia.

Evelyn Greenberg has planned a tour to the Festival from Ottawa that includes 3 nights in Rome beginning June 23rd. Please contact Jean Sheikh at Executive Travel (613)236-5555 or jsheikh@executive-trvl.com to add your name to the list of participants. A tour with Evelyn is not to be missed! You need not be a resident of Canada and the USA to join the tour. It?s also possible to join them in Rome when the tour begins. Details of the tour can be found on: http://www.executive-trvl.com/specials/trasimeno09.html

The audience of the Trasimeno Music Festival is quickly becoming like one big family. Nothing makes me happier than this. When I perform in New York, London, Tokyo, Sydney, Vancouver, Copenhagen, Los Angeles (to name but a few), people who have been to my festival come to hear me and relate their Trasimeno stories. Having met during the festival, they keep in touch with one another, and many new friendships have thus been formed. What can be better than to combine music, friendship, and the beauties of Umbria? It is my hope that this family will continue to grow, and that many of you will join us for this unique event!

With my best regards, Angela