Harmonica... più piano

Willi Burger, chromatic harmonica - Clara Schembari, piano
Music by Georg Martin, Debussy, Ibert, Walton

This is the second of two concerts performed in collaboration with the 3rd International Harmonica Festival, organised by the Trento-based association Armonica Amica under the artistic direction of Santo Albertini.
It is now very rare to hear a mouth harmonica in concert.

The potential of this instrument is enormous and perhaps greater than that of many other wind instruments: to mention just a few of its characteristics, it has an extension of more than four octaves, it is possible to play double notes and chords, there are different types of vibrato and numerous special timbral effects (glissando, mandolin, trill with register...).

Furthermore, unlike all other wind instruments, sounds are produced not only by blowing but also by inhaling.

The mouth organ originates from a very ancient instrument dating back over 3000 years, which was and still is played in the Far East: the Eastern mouth organ. The western mouth organ, or harmonica, did not appear until the beginning of the 19th century and began its worldwide spread at the end of the same century.

Willi Burger is one of the few Italian soloists of the chromatic harmonica, an instrument with which he has been performing in concert for years, in duos with famous pianists such as Ballista, Muller and Anzaghi, and as a soloist with major orchestras. Very respectful of the
musical text, Burger is unmistakable for the accuracy of the "legato", vibrato and many other figures, which would seem precluded to the chromatic harmonica. His technique is of commendable speed and purity.

Clara Schembari has studied with Sergio Perticaroli, Bruno Canino, Franco Scala, Lylia Zilberstein and Pier Narciso Masi; she has performed concerts both as a soloist and in chamber ensembles in major Italian cities and abroad in France, in
Switzerland, Germany, Singapore (Esplanade Theatre), obtaining warm acclaim from audiences and critics everywhere.