Agostini, Cymerman perform sonatas at Classical Music Fest

Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Indiana University violinist Federico Agostini and DePauw School of Music piano professor Claude Cymerman are this week's performers at the Greencastle Summer Classical Music Festival. The free concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Greencastle's Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church.

GREENCASTLE -- The Greencastle Summer Classical Music Festival continues tonight as violinist Federico Agostini (of the Inidana University Jacobs School of Music faculty) and DePauw School of Music piano professor Claude Cymerman perform sonatas by Debussy, Ravel, and Franck.

The free concert, underwritten this week by Jane Irwin in memory of her late husband Stanley Irwin, a member of the School of Music faculty for many years, takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Greencastle's Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church.

"This week brings us the three great gems of the French literature for violin and piano," explained Eric Edberg, Professor of Music at DePauw and the festival's organizer. "While all three are great pieces, the Franck in particular is regarded as one of the greatest works in the chamber music literature. The Ravel shows his love for American jazz. It's going to be a great concert."

Federico Agostini has toured internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher and adjudicator. He was a faculty member at Staatliche Hochshule für Musik in Trossigen, Germany, and has taught numerous master classes in Japan, Sweden, and Italy.

He studied at the conservatories of Trieste and Venice and completed studies at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena with Salvatore Accardo and Franco Gulli. He is in particular demand as a chamber musician, was a regular member of the chamber orchestra I Virtuosi di Roma (1981-1986), and led I Musici (1986-1992).

Agostini is a regular guest at Sarasota's La Musica International Chamber Music Festival and many others. He is a member of Quintetto Fauré di Roma, performs duo recitals with Cymerman and is a promoter and organizer of Open Chamber Music, an annual 10-day festival. He has also recorded for the Philips and Claves labels.

A native of France, Cymerman graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris with highest honors, studying with Pierre Sancan. After winning National and International Competitions, including the Grand Prize at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud contest, he studied at Indiana University with Gyorgy Sebök.

The late French President Georges Pompidou, in a special ceremony, recognized him as "Outstanding Pianist."

Cymerman performs extensively as a recitalist and chamber musician and has appeared as a soloist with the Radio France Orchestra, Orchestre des Pays de la Loire, Orchestre National d'Ile de France, Orchestre Symphonique de Limoges, the Luxembourg and San Francisco Chamber Orchestras, as well as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

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