Saturday 27th April 2024, 7.30pm.

On the occasion of the centenary of the death of the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, baritone Giuseppe De Luca and pianist Antonio Morabito will perform a fascinating program that exalts Puccini and the Italian musical verismo style.

The captivating pieces of the programme include the most beautiful opera arias by Puccini and Tosti, the two most important Italian verismo musicians. These chamber and opera arias will be juxtaposed and interspersed with fantastically lyrical pieces by Chopin, performed on the piano by Antonio Morabito.

During the concert the performers will provide detailed explanations of the musical context and the meaning of the lyrics of each song to guide the audience in appreciating every nuance of meaning, individualism and beauty in these songs.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to listen to these outstanding musicians in a special event directly from the Italian tradition right here in Chiswick!

Antonio Morabito

"One of the finest young pianists of our time." Keyboard Charitable Trust

Antonio is an Italian pianist and graduate of the Royal College of Music in London. He holds a Master in Piano performance. His studies at RCM were generously supported by the Members of the Board of “Il Circolo”.

Antonio performs regularly in solo recitals, and in Duo Mercadante with clarinettist Samuel Huston. Antonio is also a dedicated Piano Tutor and teaches through the Royal College of Music Teaching Service. He teaches also as Piano Professor at the Blackheath Conservatoire and at the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in London. Antonio also works as a choir conductor at St. Augustin Church in Hammersmith.

Antonio has achieved many competition successes including as a prize winner in the Bruxelles International Piano Competition, the International Competition Città di Barletta, San Donà di Piave Piano International Competition, International Youth Music Competitions, Atlanta, USA and the "International Moscow Music Competition", Moscow, Russia.

He is among the artists sponsored by the prestigious Keyboard Trust.

Giuseppe de Luca

Giuseppe graduated in 2019 with a degree in Opera singing from the Conservatory of Music “F. Cilea” of Reggio Calabria. He continued his studies with masterclasses and coaching from Vincenzo Scalera, Michele D’Elia, Nelson Calzi, Rolando Panerai, Luciana D'Intino, Pietro Spagnoli and Gregory Kunde. He is a prize winner of the Piero Cappuccilli Award Competition, Ripabottoni and the Tito Schipa Competition, Lecce.

From 2021-23 Giuseppe was a member of the prestigious Accademia of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan continuing his professional development as a soloist. Debut roles at Teatro alla Scala have included Fiorello in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Shaunard (cover) in La Bohème, and Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola. Other appearances include Don Meschino and Gennaro in Donizetti’s Chiara e Serafina at Teatro Sociale, Bergamo and Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia in Villorba. Giuseppe also performs frequently in concert including in the Concert for the 50° Anniversary of the Puccini Museum of Celle dei Puccini in Pescaglia.

Latecomers can not be guarenteed entry and may be asked to wait until an appropriate break in the performance to enter.