Photo credit: Gabriele Lei This double-bill concert presents a captivating multi-disciplinary fusion of sand-art, music and … Italian recipes! In Note di Gusto Italian composer Roberta Vacca takes the audience on a delightful Italian food tour." Soprano Patrizia Polio sings through a menu of recipes from various Italian regions, accompanied by pianist Jacopo Petrucci and percussionist Gianluca Ruggeri. One of the unique aspects of this concert is that the percussion instruments are all kitchen utensils corresponding to the specific recipe sung by the soprano. The music is inspired by the traditional music of each region, transposing folk rhythms into a contemporary idiom. The second part of the concert features one of Maurice Ravel’s piano masterworks: Gaspard de la Nuit. Each of the three movements is set to a poem by Aloysius Bertrand. In this performance by pianist Jacopo Petrucci, the narrative and imagery depicted in the poems come to life through the live animation performance of sand artist Gabriella Compagnone.

Note di Gusto is released on the Tactus record label and is dedicated to Italian composer Azio Corghi and the 'voice' of all women. Note di Gusto is supported by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Malta.

Programme

Roberta Vacca - NOTE DI GUSTO (2015 -2023)

Cucine d’Italia - preludio nazionale

Bagna cauda (Piemonte)

Troffie co o pestu (Liguria)

I Canederli de la Rosi (Trentino Alto Adige)

Fasoi sofegai (Veneto)

Piadéina a la Rumagnòla (Emilia Romagna)

Pèchera alla cottòra (Abruzzo)

‘A pizz ca’ Pummarol’en Copp (Campania)

Ris, Patan’e Cozz (Puglia)

Shruncatura ca ‘Nduja (Calabria)

Su Licori Fatu cun sa Mutta Ucci (Sardegna)

Intermission

Maurice Ravel - GASPARD DE LA NUIT (1908)

I Ondine

II Le Gibet 

III Scarbo 

Credits

Patrizia Polia – soprano

Jacopo Petrucci – piano

Gianluca Ruggeri – percussion

Gabriella Compagnone – sand artist

Programme Notes

Roberta Vacca - NOTE DI GUSTO (2015 -2023)

Note di Gusto is a musical project centred around a culinary theme bringing together the diverse flavours of Italian cuisine. The project includes a collection of recipes, chosen according to the emotional resonance and personal connection to Roberta Vacca's culinary and musical experience. These recipes were composed using the local dialects reflecting the rich oral culture of Italy. Each recipe is linked to a song that Vacca considers emblematic of its region, creating a musical journey that spans the country's geographical and cultural landscape. This project celebrates the vast musical and culinary heritage of Italy, highlighting the unique traditions of each region. Note di Gusto is released on the Tactus record label and is dedicated to Italian composer Azio Corghi and the 'voice' of all women. Note di Gusto is supported by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Malta.

Maurice Ravel - GASPARD DE LA NUIT (1908)

I Ondine

II Le Gibet 

III Scarbo 

Gaspard de la Nuit is a three-movement piano suite composed by Maurice Ravel in 1908 and premiered in Paris in 1909 . Inspired by Aloysius Bertrand's collection of poems, it is renowned for its technical challenges and poetic imagery. The first movement, Ondine, tells the tale of a water nymph who attempts to lure a man into the depths of a lake. Ravel evokes the shimmering water through intricate arpeggios and tremolos, creating a dreamy and seductive atmosphere. The second movement, Le Gibet, is a haunting portrayal of a corpse hanging from the gallows, with a mournful bell tolling in the distance. Ravel achieves this eerie scene with a repetitive B-flat ostinato and sparse harmonies. The final movement, Scarbo, depicts a mischievous goblin flitting about in the darkness. It is renowned for its technical challenges, including rapid passagework and complex rhythms, making it one of the most difficult pieces in the piano repertoire. Ravel's ambition was to convey the poet's words through music, creating a masterpiece that continues to challenge and inspire pianists worldwide.

Biographies

Roberta Vacca

Roberta Vacca is a pianist and composer who teaches at the Conservatory 'A. Casella' in L'Aquila. She furthered her studies at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Accademia Chigiana under Azio Corghi. Vacca has received numerous awards and has been a resident composer at prestigious institutions like the MacDowell Colony (USA) and the Fondazione per le Lettere e per le Arti in Bogliasco. Her compositions (published by Ars Publica, Twilight, MEP, Sconfinarte, RAI Com) have been performed internationally. In 1995, Vacca co-founded the Burattinmusica Theatre Group, creating musical theatre for children and art installations. She has collaborated on various multidisciplinary projects with artists like Maurizio Gabbana (fotografia), Gea Casolaro, Francesca Checchi (video-arte), Harries/Héder Collaborative (architettura/arte pubblica), Pierpaolo Mancinelli (arte digitale), Gruppo Artifizio (oreficeria).

Patrizia Polia

The repertoire of soprano Patrizia Polia spans opera, symphony concerts, chamber music and contemporary productions. She has been a key figure in world premiere performances of works by prominent contemporary composers. Her performances have been featured at prestigious festivals and institutions, including the Ravenna Festival, Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Inventionen in Berlin, and the Avignon Festival. She has collaborated with renowned orchestras and ensembles such as the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Concerto Italiano and Virtuosi Italiani, under the direction of notable conductors like Rinaldo Alessandrini, Ennio Morricone and Markus Stockhausen. 

Gianluca Ruggeri

Gianluca Ruggeri is a versatile artist who works as a director, performer, author, and teacher focusing on contemporary solo and chamber music. He co-founded Ars Ludi in 1987 and received the Silver Lion award for lifetime achievement from the Venice Biennale in 2022. Since 2003 he has led the Ready-Made Ensemble a chamber vocal group. As a soloist he has collaborated with artists like Franco Battiato, Ludovico Einaudi and Yehudi Menuhin. Ruggeri has composed music for small ensembles published by Universal and edited stage music for poetry and theatre, working with Nanni Balestrini and others. He has conducted works by Bartók, Nono, Reich and Stravinsky with recordings released by Edipan, Brilliant and Stradivarius record labels. Currently he teaches at the music conservatory of L'Aquila.

Jacopo Petrucci

Jacopo Petrucci is a rising Italian pianist specializing in 20th and 21st-century repertoire. He studied at the Conservatorio "A. Casella," Scuola di Musica di Fiesole and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, establishing himself as a soloist and chamber musician. He has collaborated with ensembles like Ensemble Novecento and PMCE and performed at notable venues such as the "B. Cristofori" International Piano Festival and Accademia Filarmonica Romana. In the 2024-25 season, Petrucci will tour internationally with the performance Dancing Glass, visiting Italy, Estonia, and China. He has participated in masterclasses with Pierre-Laurent Aimard and attended lessons at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy in Krakow. Additionally, Petrucci is a promising composer interested in electronic music and interdisciplinary collaborations, contributing to the evolution of new musical expressions.

Gabriella Compagnone

Gabriella Compagnone, born in 1990, has been dedicated to the art of sand art professionally since 2009. This unique art form utilizes a cinematographic technique, creating evolving narratives through the interplay of light and shadow. It involves crafting images by manipulating sand on a light box with the fingers and palms, forming a visual language that transcends linguistic boundaries. The experience is often accompanied by music, creating an evocative journey for the audience. Gabriella Compagnone gained her first national recognition in 2009 as a semi-finalist on Italy's Got Talent. Following this televised appearance, she has showcased her sand art performances in numerous theatres and festivals, captivating audiences with her innovative storytelling.