(September 29th, 2017) Two talented Italian young women that have previously recorded with prestigious labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, envisioned a programme that includes instrumental variations of arias from the works of Donizetti, Rossini and other Italian composers. The performance by Francesca Dego (violin) and Francesca Leonardi (piano) will be held at the Italian Institute of Culture of Hamburg on Wednesday, October 4th until the 19th. These are two of the best artists on the international music scene. Francesco Dego's critically acclaimed album for Deutsche Grammophon was released in 2012 featuring Niccolò Pagaini's 24 caprices. Francesca Leonardi is an exceptional pianist who combines pure and fascinating musicality with impeccable technique. Organised in collaboration with CIDIM (Italian National Music Committee), the concert was funded by "Siae - From who creates" in the context of Suono Italiano supported by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism - Live Entertainment Department. (Red)

THE TWO ARTISTS

Francesca Dego is considered one of the best contemporary Italian violinists in the international music scene. She has been a Deutsche Grammophon artist since 2012 with whom she celebrated her critically acclaimed debut with Paganini's 24 violin caprices. The last part of their overall recordings, with violin and piano sonatas by Beethoven, came out in October 2015. Francesca Dego won numerous national and international awards. In 2008, she was the first Italian woman to enter the finals of the renowned Paganini Award in Genoa since 1961. She was also awarded the special "Enrico Costa" award reserved for the youngest finalist. Francesca Leonardi is the first Italian female pianist to record an album with the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label. She has recently recorded Beethoven's integral sonata for violin and piano, alongside violinist Francesca Dego, with whom she has collaborated with regularly for over ten years. Born in Milan in 1984, Francesca Leonardi began studying the piano at the age of 3. She studied at the Musical Academy in Pescara, at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena and at the Royal College of Music in London where she graduated in 2012. Since a very young age, she has been featured in several national and international piano competitions, and won some first place awards. Francesca Leonardi performs solo in numerous Italian and international orchestras and regularly performs at renowned salons and festivals. On Wednesday 4 October at 19.00, within the project Suono Italian, the duo Francesca Dego (Violin) and Francesca Leonardi (piano) will perform at the Institute. The two promising young Italian talents that have already recorded albums with Deutsche Grammophon, will perform a repertoire that includes instrumental variations of arias from the works of Donizetti, Rossini and other Italian compositions.