Italian maestros Bernardi and Benciolini to perform in city on Sunday

Time of India

17 hours ago

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Pune: Italian virtuosos guitarist Lorenzo Bernardi and flautist Tommaso Benciolini are all set to bring their celebrated international collaboration to the city with Echoes of Italy: The Italian Essence.
Known for their technical mastery and poetic interpretations, they have performed across prestigious venues, from New York's Carnegie Hall to the Mozarteum in Salzburg. The concert, organized by Istituto Italiano di Cultura (IIC), Mumbai, and Poona Music Society, brings together the Italian soul of music with reflections on landscape and migration.
"This programme traces Italian identity through music shaped by landscape and migration — from Rossini's regional vitality to Castelnuovo-Tedesco's American exile and Piazzolla's Italian-rooted tango.
Ravi Shankar's L'aube enchantée completes the arc, honouring India's voice in this cultural exchange," said Bernardi.
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For Benciolini, the Italian essence lies in "our lyrical instinct and structural creativity". "The idea is to renovate without losing emotional clarity. Even our contemporary piece by Andrea Battistoni, written especially for us and premiering in India, follows this principle," said Benciolini.
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Both musicians are known for chamber work. Bernardi, who collaborated with mandolinist Carlo Aonzo and violinist Saverio Gabrielli, said ensemble playing transforms the role of the guitar. "In solo, the guitar stands on its own, but in chamber music, it blends and supports. With the flute, it creates a warm, intimate sound rooted in the 19th-century salon tradition. Segovia's 20th-century revival inspired composers like Castelnuovo-Tedesco — an influence that lives on in our programme," said Bernardi.
Benciolini believes that the legacy of performance venues isn't a burden. "Performing where legends once stood, like Carnegie Hall, with posters of Mahler and Dvořák, drives me to give it my all on stage. That legacy fuels deeper, more emotionally charged performances."
Both musicians credit teaching with shaping their own understanding of music. Bernardi, who judged and taught at institutions across Europe, Asia, and the US, finds "promising energy" in countries where the guitar is still growing as a classical instrument.
"In places like India, I'm struck by the curiosity and dedication of young guitarists. There's a real sensitivity to the expressive side of the repertoire, an instinctive grasp of legato phrasing and cantabile lines.
It gives me confidence that the instrument's future is being shaped by voices from different corners of the world."
For Benciolini, who began teaching at the age of 21, the exchange with students across cultures reinforced the complexity of musical learning.
"Teaching constantly reminds me how much inspiration works both ways," he said. "Music is deeply psychophysical. It's about learning how to think while playing. And that only becomes clear through real dialogue with each student's way of responding," said Benciolini.
The duo is thrilled to perform for the city's "discerning" audiences. "Performing in India is always special. The audience's warmth, curiosity, and attentiveness create a rare openness to the emotional storytelling in Italian music.
It feels like a true cultural exchange," said Bernardi.
The programme will be held on July 20 at Mazda Hall, Camp.
Pune: Italian virtuosos guitarist Lorenzo Bernardi and flautist Tommaso Benciolini are all set to bring their celebrated international collaboration to the city with Echoes of Italy: The Italian Essence.
Known for their technical mastery and poetic interpretations, they have performed across prestigious venues, from New York's Carnegie Hall to the Mozarteum in Salzburg.
The concert, organized by Istituto Italiano di Cultura (IIC), Mumbai, and Poona Music Society, brings together the Italian soul of music with reflections on landscape and migration.
"This programme traces Italian identity through music shaped by landscape and migration — from Rossini's regional vitality to Castelnuovo-Tedesco's American exile and Piazzolla's Italian-rooted tango. Ravi Shankar's L'aube enchantée completes the arc, honouring India's voice in this cultural exchange," said Bernardi.
For Benciolini, the Italian essence lies in "our lyrical instinct and structural creativity". "The idea is to renovate without losing emotional clarity. Even our contemporary piece by Andrea Battistoni, written especially for us and premiering in India, follows this principle," said Benciolini.
Both musicians are known for chamber work. Bernardi, who collaborated with mandolinist Carlo Aonzo and violinist Saverio Gabrielli, said ensemble playing transforms the role of the guitar.
"In solo, the guitar stands on its own, but in chamber music, it blends and supports. With the flute, it creates a warm, intimate sound rooted in the 19th-century salon tradition. Segovia's 20th-century revival inspired composers like Castelnuovo-Tedesco — an influence that lives on in our programme," said Bernardi.
Benciolini believes that the legacy of performance venues isn't a burden. "Performing where legends once stood, like Carnegie Hall, with posters of Mahler and Dvořák, drives me to give it my all on stage.
That legacy fuels deeper, more emotionally charged performances."
Both musicians credit teaching with shaping their own understanding of music. Bernardi, who judged and taught at institutions across Europe, Asia, and the US, finds "promising energy" in countries where the guitar is still growing as a classical instrument. "In places like India, I'm struck by the curiosity and dedication of young guitarists. There's a real sensitivity to the expressive side of the repertoire, an instinctive grasp of legato phrasing and cantabile lines.
It gives me confidence that the instrument's future is being shaped by voices from different corners of the world."
For Benciolini, who began teaching at the age of 21, the exchange with students across cultures reinforced the complexity of musical learning. "Teaching constantly reminds me how much inspiration works both ways," he said. "Music is deeply psychophysical. It's about learning how to think while playing.
And that only becomes clear through real dialogue with each student's way of responding," said Benciolini.
The duo is thrilled to perform for the city's "discerning" audiences. "Performing in India is always special. The audience's warmth, curiosity, and attentiveness create a rare openness to the emotional storytelling in Italian music. It feels like a true cultural exchange," said Bernardi.
The programme will be held on July 20 at Mazda Hall, Camp.