(Contributed photo)
SANTA CRUZ — On Jan. 21, two internationally acclaimed musicians will perform in Santa Cruz, offering a night of classical music on piano and violin.
Lucia Luque, violinist, is considered by fans and critics as one of the best young artists in South America. Her rapidly advancing career as a soloist and in chamber groups has led to many concert performances in Argentina, Italy, Brazil, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Chile, Nigeria, Uruguay, Mexico, UK, Spain, Senegal and Portugal.
Winner of numerous national and international competitions, Luque was the First Prize winner in the “National Prize of Arts” in Torino, Italy. She won the Special Prize at the prestigious “Concorso Internazionale di Violino Curci” in Napoli, and was also awarded the “Premio Accademia Filarmonica dell’Arena” in Verona.
At the age of 14, Luque made her debut as a soloist in Argentina with the National Symphonic Orchestra playing Max Bruch’s Concert Nº 1. Since then, she’s performed regularly as a soloist with orchestras such as the National Symphonic Orchestra of Argentina, Mendoza Philarmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra of Cordoba, Sinphonic Orchestra of Rosario, Orchestra OSPA of Porto Alegre of Brazil, Orchestra Symphonic of Chile, Symphonic of Mar del Plata, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Philarmonic Orchestra Arena di Verona, Orchestra Festival Michelangeli and Chamber Orchestra of Chile.
Luque studied violin with Humberto Carfi and received her diploma at the Conservatory of Music in Verona, under the tutelage of Juan Carlos Rybin. In 2009 she was selected by Salvatore Accardo to study at the Stauffer Accademy in Cremona and at the Chigiana Accademy in Siena until. In 2009 she also studied with Felice Cusano at the Fiesole School of Music in Florence.
Between 2011–2012 she studied in Berlin, Germany with Christophe Horak and Simone Bernardini (Berliner Philarmoniker). She attended masterclasses with Sergej Krylov, Ana Chumachenco, Zakhar Bron, Nora Chastain, Sonya Korkeala, Roby Lakatos, Bernard Fork and Richard Young.
As a very active chamber musician, she eventually recorded an album with pianist Mauro Bertoli. Since 2013 she has been the Concertmaster for the Cordoba Symphonic Orchestra, and she is now a professor at Uader University in Entre Rios.
After receiving the first prize in several international and national piano competitions, Bertoli has established himself on the international stage and has been praised by the press for his formidable technique and exceptional sensitivity.
Invited to debut for the highly recognized International Piano Festival of Brescia and Bergamo in Italy in 2016, he has also been awarded the prestigious Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Prize, which has been awarded to musicians such as Pollini, Argerich, Kissin, Uchida, Lang Lang, Temirkanov, Muti, Ughi, Rostropovich and Maisky. Bertoli is the first young, newly-emerging pianist to win the prize.
John Terauds of the Toronto Star wrote a rave review of Bertoli’s recent performance in Canada, claiming he was “….dazzled by (the) up-and-coming pianist … with absolutely flawless technique and deep musicality. Here is a newcomer to watch out for.”
The upcoming Santa Cruz concert, organized by the Distinguished Artist Series, will begin at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21 at Peace United Church, 900 High St., Santa Cruz. Luque and Bertoli will perform pieces by Beethoven, Franck, Schumann, Piazzolla and Sarasate.
Tickets are $35 for general guests, $30 for seniors and $12.50 for students. To buy tickets, visit distinguishedartists.org. For information, call 539-0000.
