From: spacefox@acs.bu.edu (Godfrey Degamo)
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical
Subject: Anthony di Bonaventura, piano virtuoso-extraodinaire
Keywords: COOL!  WONDERFUL!  MAGNIFICENT!
Date: 22 Dec 92 12:22:22 GMT
Organization: Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
Originator: spacefox@acs.bu.edu


Okay, you "best this and that" people, I thought I might want to
tell you about a pianists, who I thought every pianist here knew
about, Anthony di Bonaventura.  The next passage was taken out of
the CD insert of Rachmaninoff's Preludes performed by di Bonaventura,
Titanic Records.  (I guess I'm violating copyright laws, but I don't think
it should hurt sales!):

     Anthony di Bonaventura has performed in 25 countries, appearing in recital
and with such major orchestras of the world as the Philedelphia Orchestra
(13 performances), the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the
Pittsburgh Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic, and the Vienna Symphony.  He
has appeared in the Great Performers Series at Lincoln Center and the festivals
of Ann Arbor, Saratoga, Bergen (Norway), Graz (Austria), Spoleto and Lucca
(Italy), Zabreb (Yugoslavia), Donaueschingen (Germany), and Almeida (England).
During his second triumphant tour of Australia and New Zealand he was the
soloist for the concerts which opened the famed Sydney Opera House.
     In October 1986, di Bonaventura gave the world premiere performance of
Gyorgy Ligeti's Concerto for Piano, written especially for him, at the Graz
Festival in Austria.  This season he gave the United States premiere of the
Ligeti Concerto with the Saint Louis Symphony in St. Louis, New Haven, and
Carnegie Hall, under the baton of Leonard Slatkin.
     Other world-renowned composers who have written expressly for the artist
include Vincent Persichetti (Piano Concerto, premiered Dartmouth Festival,
1968), Luciano Berio ("Points on the Curve to Find...," premiered Donaueschingen,
1975), Milko Kelemen ("Mirabilia," premiered Paris, 1975), and Alberto Ginastra
(Piano Sonata No. 2, premiered Ann Arbor, 1982).
     The dean of Polish composers, Witold Lutoslawski, was on the podium with
Mr. di Bonaventura at the piano for the premiere in the Netherlands of Maestro
Lutoslawki's Piano Concerto with the Rotterdam Philharmonic in Rotterdam and
The Hague in November of 1989.....
     Mr. di Bonaventura has recorded for Columbia, RCA, Connoisseur Society
(IN-SYNC), and Sine Qua Non.  The Boston Globe described his recording of the
Debussy Etudes as "one of the wonders of the world."
     Acknowledged as a Master Teacher of international stature, di Bonaventura
is Professor of Music and Chairman of Piano Department at Boston University's
School for the Arts and Founder-Director of the Piano Institute at Colby
College in Maine.  Amoung the many institutions at which he has given Master
Classes are U.C.L.A., University of Michigan, Eastman School of Music, Brighan
Young University, North Carolina School for the Arts, University of Toronto,
University of Texas, and the Yamaha School in Singapore.
     Anthony di Bonaventura started his piano studies at the age of three, gave
his first professional concert at the age of four, won a scholarship to New
York's Music School Settlement at six, and appeared as soloist with the New
York Philharmonic at thirteen.  At sixteen he became pupil of the celebrated
Russian teacher, Madame Isabelle Vengerova, and later entered the Curtis
Institute from which he graduated with highest honors.....  His brilliant
performances in an early European tour led his selection by Otto Klemperer to
perform the complete Beethoven Concerti at the London Beethoven Festival.




Okay, so he may not be the Greatest Pianist that is living today.  But, I
think he's the greatest pianist with a neat sounding last name.  I mean, c'mon!
"De Larrocha?" sounds like something I'd step on!  How about we start a new 
thread: Great pianist with a last name longer than 10 letters.

Someone asked how good is his Rachmaninoff Pre-ludes?
Very good.  Why?  Well, I'm not getting pay or comission to write this!

Someone also asked if "his recording of Prokofiev's Seventh Sonata is 
available on CD"  I don't know.  I will get you that answer shortly.  Gonna
see if I can get him to autograph my CD!

Alright seriously speaking,
the two CD's I know of by di Bonaventura are: 

Sergei Rachmaninoffs 13 preludes op. 32 (Ti-194)
Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonatas    (Ti-196)

Titanic Records
P.O. Box 204
Somerville, Massachusetts 02144-0204

$20 for CD.
$10 for Cassette.



Makes great xmas present for yourself.


Good day folks!

                                   -G. Degamo,
                                    spacefox@acs.bu.edu