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Mario Brunello

Mario Brunello talks to us about his expectations of the Duo concert with Andrea Lucchesini

In October 2006, Abbado, Pollini and the highly lauded Mario Brunello performed together at the Lucerne Festival in Tokyo 2006. During the rehearsal, Brunello shared some thoughts with us.

Lucchesini, an intimate friend

-How was it to be part of the Lucerne festival orchestra?

Brunello : This is the first time that I play together with Pollini. For the last 30 years, I listened with profound interest to Abbado's performances, and playing for the Lucerne Festival orchestra, directed by Abbado and Pollini, has indeed been a long-time dream. In fact, this is like a selection of a world soccer team: incredible and incomparable.

-Do you pay any special attention to your upcoming concert with the brilliant pianist Andrea Lucchesini in February 2007?

Brunello : Lucchesini is a pianist with abundant musicality and strength. We share the kind of friendship where we can quarrel over anything during practice. As our relationship relies on mutual trust, we are able to liberally demonstrate our musicality during the concert, which makes the performance even better.

-For the recital on February 15th and the recording of your CD you choose the following pieces: Brahms's Cello Sonata No. 2, Schubert's Sonata for Arpeggione and Lekeu`s Cello Sonata. Didn't you already perform Schubert's and Lekeu's pieces along with Afanassiev during the Tokyo Summer Festival 2002?

Brunello : With Afanassiev there wasn't a very strict practice, and on stage we were here and there trying to compete against each other for the tempo, as opposed to Lucchesini, a pianist who directs the concert step by step towards mutuality, by accumulating space for free interpretation. There is a big difference in attitude, don't you think?

Schubert and Lekeu counterbalancing Brahms

-Can you tell us something about the structure of the February concert?

Brunello : Lekeu is a composer who studied composition by self-education. This simple cello sonata is a repetitive piece, where the piano takes over the bigger part, contrary to the Schubert piece, where one could say that the cello plays the principal role and leaves a minor part to the piano. In between these two pieces I round up with Brahms. Only by inserting his Sonata No.2, the whole program becomes complete.

-Lucchesini's first performance of Berg's piano pieces have been highly appreciated; he also recorded concertos of Berg and Schoenberg. Mr. Brunello, you are actively performing contemporary compositions like Sollina's and Scelsi's oeuvres. Please tell us about your's and Lucchesini's attitude to contemporary concerts.

Brunello : We plan to perform pieces of the contemporary Azerbaijani composer Franghiz Ali-Zadeh. It would be more accurate to say that we like to confront new challenges, rather than actively play contemporary music.

Trekking tour in the Sahara desert

-What are your plans after your return?

Brunello : After returning to Italy, I will directly go on a Sahara desert trekking and cello trip, along with my wife and my three children. Although studying at school is very important, I want my children to live this experience in the middle of the nature with the whole family. While riding on the back of a camel, I will play the cello in between dunes and mountain tops, snapping the sound. This performance will be held during sunset.