Flavio Varani, Piano
8 p.m.
January 19, 2002
First United Methodist Church,
Port Huron, Michigan
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"A pianist with a temperamental affinity for high romantic
pieces and the fingers capable of playing them in grand style..."
- New York Times
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Born in Sao Paulo, Flavio Varani began his distinguished piano performance career at the age of seven as a featured soloist on Brazilian Radio and TV.  Two years later he toured with the Brazilian National Symphony Orchestra.  At thirteen he received a scholarship from the French Government to study with the legendary Magda Tagliaferro in France.  Mr. Varani, based in Paris for seven years, was heard in concerts in the USSR, and Europe.  When he was eighteen years old he won First Prize at the "Chopin International Competition" in Majorca, Spain.  He continued his education in the United States where his mentors were Rosina Lhevinne and Artur Balsam.  He received the "Harold Bauer Award" from Manhattan School of Music; "Musician of the Year" from the Michigan Foundation for the Arts; and "Best Soloist of the Year" by the Brazilian Art Critic's Association.
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Flavio Varani has performed in major music centers and festivals throughout the world including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Moscow Conservatory and Munich Gasteig.  He has been heard at numerous music festivals; Newport Music Festival, Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Meadow Brook Festival and the Cotignac Festival in France.  Among his numerous orchestral engagements have been appearances with conductors Gunther Herbig, Sir Neville Marriner, Semyon Bychkov, Lukas Foss, Georg Schmohe and Eleazar de Carvallo.
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Mr. Varani returns annually to Japan as soloist, chamber musician and teacher.  In the year 2000, Flavio Varani joined the principal cellist and principal violinist of the "Orchestre National de France" to form the Galla Trio.  Their successful inaugural concerts in Tokyo resulted in return engagements for 2001 in Japan, followed by a concert tour in Brazil.
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His recent CD of Villa Lobos piano music was designated "Outstanding Classical Recording of 1999" by the Detroit Music Foundation.  Presently Flavio Varani is Artist in Residence at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and Director of the International Chamber Music Academy in Germany.
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Program:

Italian Concerto                                                                   J.S. Bach
         allegro
         aria
         presto

Ballad in A Flat, Op. 47                                                     F. Chopin

Scherzo in B Flat, Op. 31

Intermission

Preludes                                                                           C. Debussy
         Gate of the Wine
         Sounds and Fragrances
         Hills of Anacapri

African Dances                                                          H. Villa-Lobos
         Farrapos
         Kankukus
         Kankikis
 

Flavio Varani appears by arrangement with Sanfield Artist Management.   ssanfield@aol.com

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