Cristiana Pegoraro plays at Park Avenue to Support Italy-USA Musical Ties

To promote musical interchange between Italy and the United States, Italian pianist Cristiana Pegoraro performed on Park Avenue on Sunday, the 23.

Acclaimed pianist Cristiana Pegoraro has played in prestigious venues all over the world, including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Royal College of Music, Festspielhaus, and Auditorium Parco della Musica. However, she performs in her native Italy and her adopted home of the United States most frequently. The pianist is also the President and Founder of the non-profit Narnia Arts Academy, whose mission is to spread awareness of and appreciation for Italy’s rich artistic, architectural, and historical heritage.

On Sunday evening, Pegoraro gave a concert in the Park Avenue stately home of Francesca and Michelle Verga, playing compositions by Vivaldi, Beethoven, Rossini, and some pieces of her own. During the evening, the artistic director of Narnia Festival, Pegoraro, reflected on the Festival’s journey from its humble beginnings as a collaborative effort with some American colleagues to its current status as one of the most anticipated summer music events in Italy, strengthening the cultural ties between the two countries. As the concert program’s focal point, she noted the organizational and financial dedication of the program to send select students from the Umbrian Conservatory to New York for an exceptional experience of living in the city. Initiated in 2019, the Festival aims to host in Manhattan a group of students and faculty from the Umbrian summer school for educational activities and performances in the world’s cultural epicenter. This year’s program runs from March 18-24 and features a variety of events, including a performance of “Fantasia Italiana” for piano and orchestra at Carnegie Hall on March 22.

-Nazli Esen