Italian mandolin artist Carlo Aonzo performs at Għajnsielem church
Event showcases the versatility of the instrument and the musician's virtuosity
A mandolin concert was held at St Anthony of Padua church in Għajnsielem as part of a highly varied programme of events related to the 19th edition of Gaulitana: A Festival of Music.
Entitled Il Mandolino Nobile, the event featured a solo mandolin recital by internationally-renowned Italian artist Carlo Aonzo. The repertoire presented showcased the versatility of the instrument with various excerpts from different musical eras, as well as Aonzo’s virtuosity. This was very much appreciated by the audience.
Aonzo, a native of Savona, Italy, went on to study with Ugo Orlandi, the current patriarch of the Italian mandolin camp, at the Cesare Pollini Conservatory of Padua. He has toured throughout northern Europe, Italy and the US, performing in duo with celebrated flatpicking guitarist Beppe Gambetta and as a soloist with chamber ensembles and orchestras including La Scala Philharmonic of Milan.
Aonzo is an active scholar of historic mandolinists and mandolin repertoire and has contributed to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
The Gaulitana festival continues until the end of April, reaching a climax on Saturday, April 25, with the production of Verdi’s opera Il Trovatore. For more details about the festival, visit www.gaulitanus.com. Booking for the opera can be done online at www.teatruaurora.com.