RACHEL BREEN - Il Pianoforte in Ateneo

Introduzione a cura del Prof. Enrico Reggiani

PROGRAMMA
F. Chopin (1810-1849), Impromptu n. 1 op. 29
L. Berio (1925-2003), Wasserklavier
F. Chopin, Impromptu n. 2 op. 36
M. Mussorgsky (1839-1881), Impromptu Passioné
F. Chopin, Impromptu n. 3 op. 51
A. Schönberg (1874-1951), da Fragments: Leicht, mit einiger Unruhe, Rasch, Fast durchaus leise
F. Chopin, Impromptu n.4 “Fantasie Impromptu” op. 66
N. K. Medtner (1880-1951), Sonata op. 22

Twenty-six year old American pianist Rachel Breen’s performances have been described as “truly show-stopping” (Gramophone UK), having “a beautiful piano sound and original detail.” She is a student of the late Lars Vogt at Hannover's Hochschule für Musik; previously, she completed degrees at Yale University and the Juilliard School under--respectively--Boris Slutsky and Julian Martin. Breen was self-taught until age 10, when she began lessons with Dr. Sharon Mann at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Breen has enjoyed an active competition career, having been awarded top prizes at Premi Iturbi (2023), the Hans von Bülow International Competition (2023), the Bösendorfer International Competition (2023), the Honens International Piano Competition (2022), Concorso Internazionale Palma D’Oro (2022), the Beethoven International Competition in Vienna (2021), the Livorno International Piano Competition (2020), the Georges Cziffra International Competition (2019), the Nuova Coppa Pianisti International Competition (2019), the Gallinari International Competition (2019), Premio Melini (2019), and Concurso Internacional de Piano Compositores de España (2018), among others. She was selected as the 2021-23 National Federation of Music Clubs’ Young Artist in the US, and received the 2021 Kurt Alten Prize at her university in Germany.

She has performed and taught masterclasses around the United States, as well as in Argentina, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. She is featured in the 2021 podcast 30 Bach alongside Jeremy Denk, Angela Hewitt, Tim Page, and Simone Dinnerstein in a discussion and performance of the Goldberg Variations. Her most recent concert seasons have featured guest artist appearances at the Chautauqua Institute, The San Francisco International Piano Festival, the Beethovenfest in Bonn, Merkin Hall for IKIF, Festival Liszt en Provence, and Fazioli Hall's Concert Series.

Aside from piano, Breen has an interest in languages, having received first prize on the National Latin Exam and third prize on the National French Exam. She spends her spare time running, exploring philosophy and visual arts, and forgetting to answer important emails.

Breen is currently based in Hannover, Germany.

Il Progetto IL PIANOFORTE IN ATENEO è frutto di un’intesa tra la sede milanese dell’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore e una delle più importanti Case del mondo degli strumenti musicali, Kawai Pianos di Hamamatsu (Giappone). Ne sono promotori il Maestro Davide Cabassi (docente presso il Conservatorio di Milano) e il Prof. Enrico Reggiani (direttore dello Studium Musicale di Ateneo) in qualità di, rispettivamente, ideatore artistico e direttore scientifico. L’obiettivo del Progetto è contribuire ad arricchire l’offerta musicale della Città di Milano, secondo criteri e modalità innovative dal punto di vista cultural-musicologico e di altissimo profilo artistico.

Modalità ingresso e prenotazione

Il concerto è a ingresso libero, dalle 20.15, fino a esaurimento posti. La prenotazione Eventbrite è indicativa e utile per ricevere promemoria, informazioni sull'evento e agli organizzatori per prevedere l'affluenza.