From Sunday 25 September to Saturday 1 October an exceptional musical event will be held in Palazzo Contucci, Montepulciano. Malcolm Bilson, the world famous concert soloist, scholar and teacher, considered one of the founding fathers of the renaissance of the fortepiano, will celebrate the unveiling of the splendid Conrad Graf fortepiano, recently restored.
The instrument was made between 1826 an 1828 and has been in the Contucci family ever since.
Maestro Bilson will celebrate the return home of the fortepiano after many long months in Edwin Beunk’s laboratory in Holland (www.fortepiano.nl) by giving two concerts and a series of master-classes. Two concerts, on Sunday 25 September and Saturday 1 October, will round off a week of master-classes from Monday 26 – Friday 30 September. Both the master-classes and concerts will be held in Palazzo Contucci, built in the first half of the Sixteenth century by Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio, in the beautiful Salone delle Feste, frescoed in 1702 by Andrea Pozzo. Information concerning access to and bookings for the two concerts will be available shortly, but seating is extremely limited.
Only a very small number of musicians, preferably professionals, will be admitted to take part in the master-classes.
Participants will be selected by Maestro Bilson on the basis of the curriculum vitae submitted.
If an admission test is required it will be held on Sunday 25 September.
The organizers will inform candidates of their selection and will communicate the time and place of the classes.
It will also be possible for external students to attend the master-classes as auditors.
Certificates will be issued at the end of the week attesting the participation of all students who have attended the entire course of master-classes.
Applications should be sent to M° Carlo Cavalletti, via Cortina d’Ampezzo 152, 00135 Roma (tel: + 39 335 6771818, e-mail: carlo.cavalletti@fastwebnet.it), and must include: full name, date and place of birth, address, telephone number and e-mail address.
Course participants must attach a curriculum vitae with qualifications, education and, if relevant, teaching or concert experience, as well as a list of performance pieces to be played at the musical admission test (if necessary) and during the course.
Participants wishing to be admitted as course auditors should also send their details and indicate clearly that they are applying as auditors only. The closing date for receipt of applications is 8 September 2005. A non reimbursable fee of €25 is payable, via a bank transfer made out to:
Alamanno Contucci
Banca di Credito Cooperativo di Montepulciano
Via di Voltaia nel Corso 2/4, 53045 Montepulciano (Siena)
Telephone +39 (0)578 71111
Conto corrente n° 707
CAB 08670 - ABI 25601
SWIFT CODE: ICRAIT3FIMO
Codice BIC: ICRAIT3FIMO
Codice IBAN: IT61Q0867025601000000000707
account number n° 707, payment description “fortepiano”, by each individual applicant, whether seeking admission as auditor or participating student. A copy of the bank receipt must be attached to the application. Before the beginning of the actual course a further quota of €250 will be payable by the participating students and a quota of €75 by the auditors. Students will receive indications regarding hotels and restaurants that have a special arrangement with the course organization. Further information about Montepulciano and the Contucci family is available on this website.
Further information about the master-classes can be requested from: M° Carlo Cavalletti, tel. + 39 335 6771818, e-mail: carlo.cavalletti@fastwebnet.it