Pianist Flavio Villani. Photo: Supplied / Flavio Villani
In 1874, Modest Mussorgsky wrote his masterpiece "Pictures at an Exhibition," a suite of piano pieces inspired by the art of his friend Viktor Hartmann.
In 2026, pianist and composer Flavio Villani has done the opposite.
In collaboration with his artist friend Star Gossage, Villani has created Memoria: Echoes & Transformations in which Villani plays music by himself, J S Bach, Brahms and César Franck, while Star Gossage's artwork is projected onto a big screen in the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber.
Villani's Auckland concert on 29 March comes at the end of a month-long tour which will see him perform in concerts in Christchurch, Rangiora, Nelson, and Hamilton.
There's also a concert across the Tasman in Melbourne.
Villani's recital includes J S Bach's Chaconne in D minor (as arranged by the great pianist Ferruccio Busoni), some of Brahms' intermezzi, and his own "In Memoriam Suite". Only the final concert in Auckland will feature Gossage's art.
The Italian-born pianist spoke to RNZ Concert about the inspiration between his own compositions (the sudden death of his partner David two years ago) and the way music has helped him come to terms with his grief.
Villani is also releasing an album, Memoria (featuring works performed during his latest tour) on the Rattle label, which he hopes will be out in time for the Auckland Town Hall concert on 29 March.
Flavio Villani credit Jessica Chloe Photography Photo:
