Beatrice Rana

J.S. Bach was often seduced by the Italian baroque style and did nothing to hide it, with titles like Italienische Konzert. In this concerto with no orchestra but full of instrumental colour, however, he retains his own contrapuntal craftsmanship. Only a versatile artist like Beatrice Rana is unafraid to link Bach’s baroque clarity with Robert Schumann’s poetic character pieces. In Schumann’s works for solo piano, Carnaval, the Italian pianist dresses up her unerring technique as Pierrot, Harlequin or even Paganini. Last but not least, she introduces Muzio Clementi, an Italian who emigrated to England and influenced the piano compositions of Mozart and Beethoven. With much gesticulation, this concert programme demonstrates that Italian music is a language spoken all over the world.