Programme
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, op. 23
Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Bilder aus Osten, op. 66
Pictures from the East
I. Lebhaft
II. Nicht schnell und sehr gesangvoll zu spielen
III. Im Volkston
IV. Nicht schnell 'Chanson Orientale'
V. Lebhaft
VI. Reuig andächtig
Musician Biographies
Sharing like-minded musical views and a strong commitment to chamber music, pianists Giulia Semerano and Filippo Di Bari perform as a piano duo and are presently working on masterpieces written for this intimate ensemble, as well as lesser-known works from the XX and XXI century and collaborations with living composers.
After meeting in Italy while studying under the guidance of Sergio De Simone, they pursued further studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, where they are now based. Praised for their intense and engaging performances, and recipients of several prizes and scholarships, Giulia and Filippo regularly perform in important venues across Europe, including St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James Piccadilly, Blackheath Halls, Festival Intersezioni, Artcevia International Art Festival.
Italian pianist and scholar Filippo Di Bari is a graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Royal Holloway University of London, and the State Conservatory of Ferrara (Italy), and is currently based in London. He regularly appears in piano recitals and chamber music concerts across Europe. Among his performance highlights are C. Debussy’s First Book of Etudes for piano and R. Schumann’s Piano Concerto with the Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra.
Born in Florence, Italy, Filippo studied in Italy, the USA, and the UK, and in 2012 he spent five months as a visiting musician at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel, Switzerland.
He is a pupil of Sergio De Simone, Fabrizio Lanzoni, and Gabriele Baldocci for piano, and Ilaria Maurri for chamber music, and took part in several masterclasses and workshops with various renowned artists. During his studies Filippo has been awarded several scholarships from European and American institutions, and he was a prize winner in many piano competitions. His career has also been generously supported by Help Musicians UK.
In order to deepen his communication and performance skills, Filippo began exploring the craft of acting, and completed a Degree in Drama at CityLit College, in London. An eclectic and inquisitive mind, in 2022 he received a Masters in Musicology from Royal Holloway, University of London, where he worked with Prof. Julian Johnson on the late music of Franz Schubert.
Whilst at Royal Holloway, he was awarded the Corky McGuinness Award.
Filippo is also very involved in education and strongly believes in music as a meaningful and enriching form of expression and self-determination. He is a dedicated piano tutor, runs his own private music studio in Southeast London, and collaborates with several music schools and academies. He is a piano teacher at Surbiton High School, Blackheath High School, and the Junior Department of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, in London.
Born in Florence, Italy, and currently based in London, Giulia is an active musician, performing on a regular basis throughout Europe. She considers chamber music one of her main artistic focuses, and has performed in many important venues and festivals including 'Sir James Galway Flute Festival', St James Piccadilly, Blackheath Halls, Soho Theatre for TEDxWhitehall, St Martin in the Fields. Very open to 20th Century and contemporary music, she was among the founders of the Ensemble NuovaMusica and of the CrossContemporary Project, a dynamic ensemble formed by classically trained musicians and dancers which aims to give voice to the composers of our time. As a soloist with orchestra, she performed Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, accompanied by the L. Cherubini Conservatoire’s orchestra under the baton of P. P. Ciardi, and Beethoven Concerto n. 2 with the Siegfried Camerata conducted by Manuel Arellano Bover.
She has participated in masterclasses and worked with renowned musicians such as Claudio Martinez-Mehner, Martino Tirimo, Pascal Rogè, among others. Giulia holds a Master’s Degree and an Artist Diploma from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she studied under the tutelage of Sergio De Simone, with the kind support of Trinity Laban Scholarship Fund, and a Masters in Early Years Music Education from CREC/Birmingham City University. Previously, she undertook musical training at the Luigi Cherubini Conservatoire of Florence, where she graduated in 2012 under the guidance of Giovanni Carmassi.
Very passionate about education, she teaches piano at Westminster Cathedral Choir School and she is the Early Years Education leader for the Band Time Programme at Junior Department of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London.
Donations
Chichester Cathedral's Lunchtime Concert series is self-supporting, and thrives through the generosity of its audiences. While there is no charge for admission, we suggest a minimum donation of £3 per person, with Gift Aid applied if possible. Donations can be made in the retiring collection, in the Cathedral, at our Visitor’s Desk or at various donation points, using cash, card and contactless or using the button below.
Can't make it this time?
Lunchtime Concerts take place every Tuesday at 1.10pm during term-time, our talented performers come from across the UK and occasionally overseas, to delight our audiences with music from Beethoven to Chopin, Elgar to Mozart and more.