F. Schubert - Piano Trio in E flat major, Op.100 D.929

J. Brahms- Piano Trio in B major, Op. 8

C. Cowan - ‘Subtle Dances’

The constellation of Orion is one of the few constellations that is not only perfectly recognisable in the night sky, but is visible from both hemispheres. The Orion Piano Trio rightly wants to combine the experience and passion cultivated in both hemispheres by its members, from Europe to New Zealand, in a program rich in history, lyricism, reflection and virtuosity.

2022 marks the birthday anniversaries of two of the biggest masters of compositions, F. Schubert and J. Brahms. These two remarkable composers are very well known for their prolific, rich and varied works, having left behind some of the most beautiful and beloved piano trios. The Orion Piano Trio have selected two of the best compositions from Schubert’s and Brahms’ piano trio repertoire with which they will invite the NZ audiences to take part in the worldwide celebrations of two composers’ life and their art. The concerts will include pieces written by the young NZ composer Claire Cowan.

Marko Pop Ristov.

Violin.

Marko graduated from the Royal College of Music (London) with a BMus in 2009. He attained his Masters in Chamber Music from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, during which time he also performed his Barbican debut in 2012. At 16 he was invited and awarded a scholarship to study with Prof Pavel Vernikov at the “Scuola di Musica di Fiesole”. Marko has been awarded first prize in several international competitions including “Performing Australian Music” (London, 2008), “Giovanni Batista Pergolesi” (Italy, 2003) and “Peter Konjovich” (Yugoslavia, 2001). He has appeared as a soloist with “Kensington Sinfonia” (UK), “Orchestra dei Ragazzi” (Italy), “Bitola Chamber Orchestra” and “National Symphony Orchestra” (Macedonia). Whilst in London, Marko received coaching from eminent musicians and artists such as the: “Bedke Quartet”, “Chilingarina Quartet”, “Domus Quartet”, “Belcea Quartet”, “Florestan Trio” and many more. With his ensemble, the ‘Ristov Piano Quartet’, Marko performed in festivals across the UK, France, Switzerland, Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia. In 2010 the quartet was invited to perform the “Rombach” piano trio by P. Dusapin for the BBC Proms. Since his arrival in New Zealand in 2013 Marko is a regular player with the APO and ACO as well as section leader of “Bach Musica”. Marko in 2021 was offered a place and awarded a full scholarship to do a DMA research at the Wikato University in Hamilton, NZ.

Marco Ariani

Cello

Marco began studying the cello at the age of 7 under the guidance of Mº Francesco Pepicelli. At the age of 14 he performed the Georg Goltermann Concerto n.4 as his first recital and continued

with a series of concerts in duo and as a soloist throughout Italy. He graduated in cello performance at the Higher Institute of Musical Studies “A.Peri” in Reggio Emilia with honours, under the tutelage of Mº Enrico Bronzi.In 2004 he was invited by the Italian Embassy in Australia to tour the country with pianist Marco Gianferrari, including in the tour high profile venues as the Town Hall Opera in Perth. In 2005 he was selected by Mº Claudio Abbado as a member of the “Mozart Orchestra” with whom he recorded Mozart’s horn and violin concertos with Alessio Allegrini and Giuliano Carmignola for the Deutche Grammophon. Marco has played in orchestras with important conductors as Riccardo Muti, Lorin Maazel, Claudio Abbado and John E. Gardiner. In 2006 he performed Gabriel Faure’s Quartets with Alessandro Specchi and as a soloist with the violinist Silvia Mazzon for the concert festival “Il Violino Magico” in Portogruaro conducted by Mº Pavel Vernikov. For a couple of years he studied the Baroque and Classical repertoire with an original instrument under the guidance of Mº Marco Frezzato; he was also invited on several occasions to play with the “Europa Galante” ensemble of early music directed by Mº Fabio Biondi. In 2012 he performed the complete suites of J.S.Bach for solo cello in many Italian cities. He has won several prizes in national and international chamber music competitions, performing duets with pianist Marco Gianferrari and trios with the “Trio Gentilucci”.Marco has been teaching cello for many years and is currently a teacher at the “Orazio Vecchi” Conservatory of Modena. He plays a “Jacques le Clerc” (1901) cello.

Flavio Villani

Piano

Flavio is an Italian-born New Zealand citizen living in Auckland. He completed a Bachelor of Piano performance with Matteo Napoli at the Conservatory ‘G.Martucci’ in conjunction with a Bachelor of IT in Salerno, Italy in 2007. After working in IT in Barcelona he was given the opportunity of coming to New Zealand to pursue a career in music. He moved to New Zealand in 2008 to follow his dream and in 2012 he completed a Master in Piano Performance at the University of Auckland with first class honours under the guidance of pianist Stephen De Pledge. The journey towards his first solo performance with an orchestra was documented in the feature length film ‘Crossing Rachmaninoff’. The film followed his preparations for, and performance of, Rachmaninoff Concerto n.2 in Calabria in 2015 with the “Orchestra Filarmonica della Calabria”. After that performance he subsequently took different soloist opportunities performing Rachmaninoff Concerto n.2, Tchaikovsky Concerto n.1 and the Warsaw Concerto with the “Orchestra of CalArts” in Los Angeles, the “New Plymouth Orchestra”, the “Taranaki Symphony”, the "Bay of Plenty Symphonia” and the “Auckland Symphony Orchestra." He was absolute winner of the Northland Society Piano Competition in 2008 as well as winner of the first prize in the Llewelyn Piano Competition in both 2011 and 2012. He has performed many recitals as a soloist as well as in different chamber formations in California, Texas, Italy, Spain and New Zealand. The festivals where he performed include:the Venice Biennale (2011) for the exhibition and installation of the New Zealand pavilion, ‘Maggiociondolo’ in Alessandria, ’Lamezia Festival’ in Calabria and 'Pianino Festival' in the Chopin cell in Mallorca. He directs and teaches at the private music school L'Accademia set in the St Heliers Community Centre in Auckland through which he organises music lessons, masterclasses and events.