Shanghai Oriental Art Center - 22nd May, 2010 - 7:30 pm

On the occasion of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, the Commission of Italy for World Expo Shanghai has invited Maestro Uto Ughi, one of the greatest violinists to perform a special concert at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on the 22nd of May as part of the rich cultural calendar of Italy for this year. The concert will see a beautiful selection of works from Pugnani, Beethoven, Paganini and Saint Saens, played by one of the Maestro’s two legendary violins, a violin from the “Guarnieri del Gesù” factory from 1774 and a Stradivari of 1701, known as “Kreutzer” as it once belonged to the violinist to whom Beethoven dedicated his famous Sonata.

The concert will see the presence of the most important guests among the Italian and Chinese community and the Commission of Italy for World Expo 2010 Shanghai is also offering the public the opportunity to receive complimentary tickets by visiting the Italy Expo website and filling out a simple request form (http://www.expo2010italia.gov.it/en/culture-events).

This project is supported by the Ministry of Environment and Land Protection of the Republic of Italy.

As part of the Chinese Tour, Maestro Ughi and Maestro Specchi will also bring this beautiful classic program to Beijing, on the 25th of May at the Forbidden City Concert Hall and in Guangzhou on the 28th of May at the Concert Hall of Xinghai Conservatory of Music.

Uto Ughi – Violinist

Uto Ughi showed his talent at a remarkably young age. At his first public concert at the age of seven, he played the Chaconne from Bach’s Partita No. 2 and several Paganini Capriccios. He studied with Georges Enescu, who was also Yehudu Menuhin’s teacher. In 1959, at the age of 15, he started touring in all the European capitals and in Italy, where he regularly appears with the major orchestras as well as on the Italian Radio.

Uto Ughi hailing from Italy, the birthplace of violin, is one of the greatest violinists of our time. He has played with all the most important European and American Orchestras, among which are the London Philharmonic, the London Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic, the BBC Orchestra, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic and the Washington Symphony under the direction of conductors such as Celebidache, Colin Davis, Haitink, Sinopoli, Sargent, Rozhdestvenskj, Leitner, Prêtre, Rostropovich, Cluytens, Kondrashin, Chung, Masur, Bishkof and Ceccato.In 1978 he was named permanent member of the St. Cecilia Academy.

UTO UGHI plays a Guarnieri del Gesù violin of 1744, which with its deep warm sound is known as one of the most beautiful Guarneri in existence, as well as a Stradivarius of 1701, known as “Kreutzer” as it once belonged to the violinist by that name to whom Beethoven dedicated his famous Sonata.

Press Reviews:

“Uto Ughi “, a violinist whose mind is as interesting as his hands. He showed a fine sense of form with excellent technique and perfect aplomb”.
- Washington Post

“ Ughi is a superb technician. And in truth the sheer sound Ughi produced was ravishingly lovely…as beautiful as any ever heard. It was rather like listening to Elman or Kreisler in their prime”
- San Francisco Chronicle

“The rich, brilliant sound tone of Uto Ughi with which no other violinist could compete”
- Tokyo Concert Review

Alessandro Specchi – Pianist

Born in Milan, Specchi completed his musical schooling in Florence and continued advanced studies with Maria Tipo, Guido Agosti at the Chigiana Academy and Geza Anda in Lucerne.

He has had an important career playing in the major musical institutions in Italy and abroad (Europe, U.S.A., South America, Australia, Far East, South and North Africa) as soloist and collaborating with famous musicians and singers (Uto Ughi, Maria Tipo, Antony Pay, Giorgio Zagnoni, Quartetto Austriaco, Quartetto Academica, Quartetto di Venezia, Franco Petracchi, William Parson, etc.)

He has been piano teacher at the Cherubini Conservatory in Florence, Director at the Mascagni Conservatory in Leghorn and Artistic Director of the Tuscany Orchestra. He has recorded solo and chamber music works with Ricordi, R.C.A, Fonit Cetra and Fonè. He is presently piano teacher at the Florence Academy and at the international Academy in Portogruaro.