HIGH NOTES I Erica Piccotti (Cello)- Leonardo Pierdomenico (Piano)

HIGH NOTES

A New Generation of Italian Musicians

Erica Piccotti, cello

Leonardo Pierdomenico, piano

perform:

M. Castelnuovo-Tedesco: I nottambuli, Variazioni fantastiche op. 47

S. Barber: Sonata Op. 6 in C minor for cello and piano  I. Allegro ma non troppo II. Adagio III. Allegro appassionato

Enrico Scaccaglia (1989): New work for cello and piano (2026), World premiere performance 

I. Stravinskij: Suite Italienne for cello and piano I. Introduzione II. Serenata III. Aria IV. Tarantella V. Minuetto e Finale

Consept

This concert is the second of four concerts of the series High Notes, A New Generation of Italian Musicians celebrating 250 Years of Musical Friendship between Italy and The United States curated by Francesca Dego.

Francesca Dego: “New York and Italian culture. Nothing could feel more personal to me with my mother born and raised in Queens and my father a celebrated Italian writer. When director Claudio Pagliara entrusted me with introducing the most exciting young Italian musicians to New York audiences I was simply thrilled and today I’m proud to present the first edition of “High notes”, celebrating 2026 by exploring a musical friendship 250 years young. Kicking off on June 4th with star pianist Martina Consonni, we continue with violinists Giuseppe Gibboni (winner of Paganini Competition in 2021 and fresh from debuts with Atlanta, Milwaukee and Detroit symphonies) and Lucilla Mariotti together with pianist Alessio Enea, guitarist Carlotta Dalia and cellist Erica Piccotti together with pianist Leonardo Pierdomenico, who have included the world premiere of a piece by young Italian composer Enrico Scaccaglia in their wonderful programme. You will get a taste of Italian inspired works by some of the greatest minds in music history, from Bach to Stravinsky, savour all-time favourites by Paganini and Gershwin, get to know extraordinary composers like Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Amy Beach and discover rarities like the delightful salon music by Alfredo D’Ambrosio. See you on Park Avenue!

Bios:

Erica Piccotti

Erica Piccotti, born in Rome in 1999, is an acclaimed cellist who made her recording debut with Warner Classics. She earned her cello diploma at the age of 14 with highest honors and honorable mention. At 13, she performed with Mario Brunello on RAI from Montecitorio. In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded the title of “Alfiere della Repubblica” by the President of the Italian Republic. A versatile soloist and chamber musician, Erica has won numerous prestigious competitions, including the “Premio Nazionale delle Arti” and the “International Johannes Brahms Competition.” She was a finalist at the Queen Elisabeth Competition and received important awards such as the 2020 ICMA “Young Concert Artist of the Year.” Erica has performed at major festivals including Verbier and Spoleto, in renowned venues such as Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Konzerthaus Berlin, and with orchestras including the Zagreb Soloists and the Malta Philharmonic. In the 2025/2026 season, she will appear as soloist with several orchestras, including the Orchestra del Maggio Fiorentino and I Virtuosi Italiani. She has collaborated with internationally renowned artists such as Gidon Kremer, Sir András Schiff, Bruno Giuranna, and Enrico Pace. Erica is currently studying with J.P. Maintz in Berlin and previously studied with Francesco Storino, Antonio Meneses, and Frans Helmerson at the Kronberg Academy. She plays a cello made by Ettore Soffritti in Ferrara in 1925.

Leonardo Pierdomenico

Born in Abruzzo, Italy, Leonardo completed his studies under Benedetto Lupo at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. At eighteen, he won the 28th “Premio Venezia” at Teatro La Fenice as the best graduating pianist from Italian conservatories, receiving the Bronze Medal of the President of the Italian Republic and a commendation from the Senate. In 2016 he was awarded a scholarship at the Music Academy of the West (Montecito, California), studying with Jeremy Denk, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Jerome Lowenthal, Julian Martin, and Leon Fleisher; he continues his training with William Grant Naboré at the Lake Como International Piano Academy. In 2017 he received the special “Raymond E. Buck” Award at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He has performed in prestigious venues including the Salle Molière (Lyon), Maison de la Radio (Paris), Filharmonia Narodowa (Warsaw), Merkin Hall (New York), Teatro La Fenice, and the Teatro alla Scala, where he appeared in the 2023–24 ballet season. As a soloist he has collaborated with conductors Yves Abel, Diego Matheuz, and Nicholas McGegan, and with orchestras including the Fort Worth Symphony, Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice, and the Wuhan Philharmonic. His 2018 debut album dedicated to Liszt was selected by Gramophone UK and nominated for the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. He teaches piano at the Conservatorio “U. Giordano” in Foggia and the Accademia Avos in Rome.

Francesca Dego (curator)

Italian American violinist Francesca Dego is celebrated for her compelling interpretations and flawless technique. Upcoming debuts include San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Danish National, Melbourne Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Bilbao Symphony and Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della Rai and an artistic residency at London’s Wigmore Hall.

Francesca performs with major orchestras worldwide including London Symphony, Tokyo’s NHK, Taipei Symphony, National Symphony in Washington, Dallas, Houston, Baltimore, Detroit, Seattle Symphonies; Swedish Radio Symphony, London Philharmonic, l’Orquesta de Castilla y León, l’Orchestre de Champs Elysées, Brucknerhaus Linz, l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Gürzenich Orchestra in Cologne and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Key recordings on Chandos Records and Deutsche Grammophon include the complete Mozart violin concertos with Sir Roger Norrington, Brahms and Busoni Concertos with the BBC Symphony and Dalia Stasevska, concertos by Paganini and Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari and a complete survey of the violin sonatas by Beethoven and Paganini’s Caprices on Deutsche Grammophon.

Francesca plays on a fine Antonio Stradivari violin on loan from J & A Beare.