This year the celebration of Italian Heritage and Culture month included a musical performance reflecting the divertisty of the New York culture scene.
The widely acclaimed Italian pianist Cristiana Pegoraro and the boys and girls of the Highbridge Voices Choir from the Bronx performed an inspired selection of piano and sacred music in honor of the artist Constantino Brumidi who is the focus of the 26th year of Italian Heritage and Culture Month in NewYork.
The concert was held in the 130 year old gothic Church of the Holy Innocents in New York City, where Brumidi painted a mural of the crucifixion for the altar 130 years ago.
Following the performance the celebration moved to a reception was held at the nearby Jolly Madison Towers Hotel.
Brumidi came to the US from Italy 150 years ago and is know for his works in the US capitol Buildng where he worked for 20 years painting the chambers of the senate and offices throughout capitol. He is know as the Michelangelo of the US Capitol and painting the dome of the Capitol.
The concert held as part by the Italian Heritage and Culture Month Committee celebration headed by Dr. Angelo gimundo and was organized by Committee members Berardo Paradiso and John De Santis.




Sponsors:

Italy-america chamber of Commerce
Famija Piemonteisa
Berardo & loyse Paradiso
Frank & barbara desiderio
Anthony & pat d'auria
Alberto & cathy comini
ferrero usa inc.
Ronald palaia
Michael de john
Michael & linda Burns
Webb Communications
the M.K. Morse Company
VErmont american corporation
Jolly Madison Towers
America Oggi
birra Peroni
Faropian Wine Corp

 

 

 


Cristiana Pegoraro at the Concert



Highbridge Voices Choir


The Program

Part I
Viewing of the Brumidi Mural
Highbridge Voices Choir
Directed by Bruno Casolari

Liturgical Selections:
W. A. Mozart - Alleluia,
  Laudate Dominum, Ave Verum
L. Lewandowski - Hallelujah
A. L. Webber - Pie Jesu
J. S. Bach - Zion Hört

Three Psalm Settings:
M. Ward - My God, My God
B. Casolari - The Lord Is My Shepherd
M. Ward - Lord Send Out Your Spirit
R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly

Part II
Cristiana Pegoraro, Pianist

D. Scarlatti - Three Sonatas
C. Pegoraro - Original Compositions
A. Piazzolla/C. Pegoraro - Tangos
E. Lecuona/C. Pegoraro - Fantasy Cuban Dances
Cristiana Pegoraro


Cristiana Pegoraro

Acclaimed as one of the most gifted musicians of her generation, Italian-born pianist Cristiana Pegoraro has consistently entertained and enlightened audiences with her inspired performances and original programming.
Ms. Pegoraro has performed in some of the greatest concert halls in the world, including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House; Grosses Saal, Festspielhaus (Salzburg); Bösendorfer Saal (Vienna); Serate Musicali (Milan); Theatro Municipal (São Paulo). Hailed by the critics as among the best interpreters and arrangers of Cuban and South American music, Ms. Pegoraro has premiered works of Latin-American composers and has created her own compositions.
She has been a featured artist on radio and television, on WQXR New York (USA), RAI (Italy), the BBC (Scotland), ARD (Germany). Her piano artistry can be heard on fifteen compact discs, and she has her own label, DIVA . Ms. Pegoraro graduated with highest honors from the Conservatory of Terni, Italy. She later studied with Nina Svetlanova at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
www.cristianapegoraro.com

Highbridge Voices Choir


Highbridge Voices Choir

Highbridge Voices is a professional training choir for boys and girls who live or go to school in the Highbridge Community of the Bronx, one of the poorest areas in the U.S. The 120 members have performed with Celine Dion, as well as appearing at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, Madison Square Garden and Late Night with David Letterman. Their music runs the gamut from Mozart, Bizet and Schubert to McCartney and Billy Joel.
Bruno David Casolari,
Conductor & Executive Director
www.highbridgevoices.org