A Celebratory Evening dedicated to the Montani Brothers
AUTHOR: TAMAR CHIKVAIDZE
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
A Celebratory Evening dedicated to the Montani Brothers
(a lecture and pre-Christmas concert) Parma, Italy
Translation from Georgian to English: James Peace
(The original article was first published in Georgian on the Blog of Tbilisi State Conservatoire, Opus 2, on 11th January, 2022)
On 19th December, 2021, a celebratory evening was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of the two brothers, Pascuale and Oreste Montani: Professor Guido Scano’s lecture and pre-Christmas concert was held in the European Hall (Sala Europa) of Corno Giovine (the birthplace of the brothers in Lombardy, Italy). Taking part were the following students of the Arrigo Boito Conservatoire of Parma and Erasmus scholarship students from the Tbilisi State Conservatoire: Soprano: Maka Dvali, the pianists: Tamar Chikvaidze, Vakhtang Zaalishvili, Emanuele Maria Scacchi, Pietro Concoreggi, and the event organizer himself, the famous concert pianist, Prof. Guido Scano (founder of the Montani Prize for young talented pianists in 2014).
Concert Programme Oreste Montani - Scherzino
(Emanuele Maria Scacchi)
Pietro Montani - Two Studies
(Pietro Concoreggi)
Pietro Montani - From L’arca di Noe, no. 1, Capriccio del cucu (Whim of the Cuckoo) and Burlesca
(Tamar Chikvaidze)
Pietro Montani - From L’arca di Noe, no.2, In morte di una lucciola (On the death of aFirefly),
Prelude no.3, from the 24 preludes, and Romance
(Vakhtang Zaalishvili)
Pietro Montani - L’arca di Noe, no.3, Quel rosignuol che si soave piagne (The Nightingale which sweetly sobs)
(Prof. Guido Scano)
Pietro Montani - Allora (For vocal and piano)
(Maka Dvali and Vakhtang Zaalishvili)
As an encore, Maka Dvali and Tamar Chikvaidze paid tribute to the Georgian composer Nodar Gabunia, performing his composition, “Let us know”, which was much enjoyed by the audience.
In addition, further Georgian music was also performed during the evening: Singer Maka Dvali and pianist Tamar Chikvaidze (accompaniment) were honored to perform a Georgian composition (“Let us in, gardener” - the work of the composer, Nodar Gabunia) which was well received.
The concert was a memorable and interesting concert for the enthusiastic Italian audience, proving that high-quality events can still take place despite the covid situation. The performers were delighted: They were filled with feelings of gratitude and gave their thanks to the Parma Conservatoire as well as to the Tbilisi State Conservatoire.
The event was reported in the local newspapers: il Cittadino (Cultura & Spettacoli), il Giorno and La Liberta.
Brief biographical Information about the composer brothers follows:
PIETRO MONTANI
Pietro Montani was born in 1895 in Corno Giovine, Italy, into a musical family. He had three brothers, who were also musicians.
He began to study under the guidance of his father, and his brother, Pasquale. He was taught composition at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatoire (Milan) and studied also at Milan University. Upon completing his studies the young man gave a successful debut concert which led to a brilliant career. In 1920 he became head of the piano department in Florence at the Cherubini Conservatoire. He remained there for 12 years, and from 1932 worked at the piano department of Milan Conservatoire for almost 40 years, until 1965. In addition to his teaching work, he enjoyed a busy concert schedule until about 1939. In the years 1945 to 1946 he worked In the music section of Radio in Florence, organizing numerous concerts of symphonic and chamber music. He directed radio shows and published critical reviews of piano interpretations. At the end of World War II he began a close collaboration with Ricordi, the Italian music publishers.
From 1951 to 1957 he was chief-editor of Ricordiana, a monthly magazine about musical life. Many of his writings (under the pseudonym, Phantasius) were devoted to the importance of musical education that is “alleviated by critical intellectualism”. From 1965 until the end of his life he was President of the Bologna Philharmonic Academy.
During his multifaceted career, he won many awards for artistic activities: In 1922 he was awarded the Zanella Prize for Poemetto Campestre (solo piano), The Palermo Symphony Concerts Association Prize for his “Humorous Suite” (1924), the B. Christophorus Prize for his piano etudes, “Studi Caratteristici” (solo piano, 1931). In addition he was awarded (among others) the following prestigious awards: A medal for his contribution to culture and art, and the Antico Fattore Prize from the Georgofili Academy of Florence.
His passion was writing and publishing instrumental works. He rejected the avant garde and Neo-classical trends. Instead he made the decision to move in an anachronistic direction, forming a bridge with the piano music of the 19th century. His main aim was to create a body of work for young pianists in order to assist them overcome technical difficulties.
Pietro died in Milan in 1967.
PASQUALE MONTANI
Pasquale (1885-1971) studied piano at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatoire in Milan.
He also learnt organ at the Bologna Lyceum of Music and composition at the Pesaro Lyceum of Music. In 1918-1921 he was director of the Giuseppe Verdi Music Academy in Genoa, and then he became a piano teacher and the principal at the Nicolo Paganini Lyceum of Music.
GIUSEPPE MONTANI
Giuseppe (1888-1964) studied at the Music Lyceum in Bologna. He was an organist and choral singing school principal in Vigevano. .
ORESTE MONTANI
After studying with his brother Pasquale in Bologna, Oreste (1900-1971) became a choral singing teacher and later school principal.
