Wednesday 8 July 2009, Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia, 20:30
Thursday 9 July 2009, Markideion Theatre, Pafos, 20:30
Friday 10 July 2009, Xenion High School Amphitheatre, Paralimni 20:30
Soloist: Kit Armstrong (piano)
Music Direction: Eduard Claucig
Programme:
G. Rossini: L’ Italiana in Algeri Overture (The Italian Girl in Algiers)
W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 17 in G major, K. 453
H. Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras Νo. 9 (“Brazilian Bach-pieces”)
F. Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 (“Scottish”)
Ticket prices: 10 and 5 euro for pensioners. Tickets available at the Theatres’ box office
Free entrance for students, soldiers, student card and EURO<26 card holders
Kit Armstrong is a sixteen-year-old pianist and composer who also displays remarkable gifts for mathematics, science, and languages. At the age of five, he began formal composition and piano studies. At seven, he became the youngest scholarship student in the history of Chapman University in California, attending the university part-time while completing high school. Two years later, he became a full-time undergraduate student, studying music and science. He currently studies piano with Alfred Brendel and Benjamin Kaplan. Whilst attending college, Kit has given recitals and appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras, having made his concerto debut at the age of eight. In 2005, he performed Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras; in 2007, he played Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bobby McFerrin. He will play Bach Concerto in D Minor and Schumann Concerto in A Minor with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Chailly in 2009 and 2010. Kit’s piano repertoire encompasses a wide range of composers; it includes all 48 Preludes and Fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier and the Two-Part and Three-Part Inventions by Bach, all 18 Mozart Piano Sonatas, 15 Beethoven Piano Sonatas, as well as works by Haydn, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Debussy and Ravel. His concerto repertoire includes works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann and Bartok.
Eduard Claucig was born in Waidhofen/Ybbs, Lower Austria. His musical education began with piano lessons at the age of six. He soon showed a broad interest and great talent in the field of music. At the age of 12 he started playing the double bass and the organ while enlarging his piano repertory and gaining first experiences in chamber music. His first compositions date back to when he was fourteen years old. From 1968 to 1972 he studied double bass with Otto Rühm and conducting with Hans Swarowsky at the University of Music in Vienna. His excellent skills at the double bass allowed him to substitute in the Wiener Staatsoper where he played together with Ludwig Streicher. From 1972 to 1973 he was the principal double bassist of the Niederösterreichische Tonkünstlerorchester in Vienna. In 1972 Eduard Claucig won the first prize at the International Competition for Organ Improvisation in Kiel, Germany. He further dedicated himself to his career as a conductor and repetiteur at the opera in Graz where he stayed until 1977. From 1977 to 1983 he conducted at the theatre in Linz, the capital of Upper Austria, and since 1983 he is professor at the University of Music in Vienna. As chief conductor and founder of the choir St. Franziskus and the chamber and symphony orchestra Sinfonietta Linz, Eduard Claucig plays a significant role in Austria’s cultural life. In May 2007 he received the Culture Award of Linz for his achievements as a conductor and was honoured by the mayor for his ardent involvement in the cultural development of the country. Eduard Claucig is also an enthusiastic chamber musician and composer. He regularly performs with singers and instrumentalists and many of his works have been broadcasted on the radio.
