Canali, Bagorro to share stage

Italian flautist Francesca Canali and Zimbabwean pianist Manuel Bagorro will open the cultural programme to celebrate 150 years of Italian unification.
The two artistes will perform classical pieces from some of Italy’s greatest composers including Donizetti (1797-1848), Anderson (1847-1909), Rossini (1792-1868), Remusat (1815-1880), Verdi (1813-1901), Briccialdi (1818-1881), Berio (1925-2003), Rota (1911-1979), Morlacchi (1784-1841) and II Pastore Svizzero.
Soloist and chamber musician Francesca Canali was born in Rome and has a broad international education.
She graduated at prestigious institutions in Rome, Paris and Salzburg where she benefited from the teaching of the great flautists including Irena Grafenauer, Patrick Gallois, Angelo Persichilli, Micheal Kofler and Maxence Larrieu.
Francesca Canali has won numerous awards at national and international competitions including first prize at the Maria Canals international music competition in Spain in 2001.
She has performed in celebrated concert venues and prestigious festivals throughout Europe, South and Central America, Japan, Russia and South Africa.
As part of the cultural exchange programme to commemorate 150th anniversary of Italian unification, Francesca Canali will during her stay in Zimbabwe host workshops at Hellenic Primary School, Hellenic International Academy, Chisipite Senior School and Prince Edward School.
Bagorro is Zimbabwe’s most celebrated solo pianist and accompanist with international acclaim.
He has performed in eleven countries and won prizes in the Newport International and Royal Overseas League Piano Competitions.
He performed in the John Schlesinger film, Madame Sousatzka starring Shirley Maclaine, and has appeared as soloist with the BBC Welsh and Cape Town Symphony Orchestras.
Bagorro’s popular music performances include shows with television comedian Michael Barrymore and a solo appearance at the London Palladium, as well as composing the music for a series of Channel 4 documentaries entitled “Africa Unmasked”.
He performed a recital for the Queen and other dignitaries at a State Banquet in London and shared a fundraising Gala programme in Harare with British ballerina, Darcey Bussell.
His wide-ranging accompanying experience includes a performance with Albanian tenor Samir Pirgu at a Guildhall gala to mark the presentation of Luciano Pavarotti with the Freedom of the City of London.
Bagorro is also founder and artistic director of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) and consults with Carnegie Hall, New York, on their much publicised community engagement programme, Musical Connections.
This year Italy celebrates the 150th anniversary of unification. March 17 has been declared a national holiday in Italy to celebrate this important occasion.
Festivities will begin on this date and continue throughout the year to commemorate important landmarks in Italian history and anniversaries of historical figures that contributed to the Italian Unification, acknowledging the places that have hosted the events by restoring life and luster to monuments that commemorate them.
The Italian Embassies all over the world will participate by organising specific events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Unity of Italy.
In Zimbabwe, the Embassy of Italy in collaboration with the traditional partners will be celebrating by organising several events.
These events include an exhibition of paintings by Italian artists dating from 1600-1700 to will be held at the National Art Gallery, a screening of a selection of Italian films, a performance by an Italian band, Amanda e la Banda at the annual Harare Jazz Festival and the Italian Jazz Festival to be held at the Italian Club in October.
A united Italy was proclaimed 150 years ago and since then, the country has gone through two wars, the economic boom, has seen the maturing of its social composition, has joined The European Union and is in the ranks of most industrialised nations of the world.