On Tuesday 23 April at 7.30 pm, the Manoel Theatre, in collaboration with the French Embassy, will present pianist Bruno Robilliard in a tribute to the late French pianist of Maltese descent Brigitte Engerer. Many still remember her fine performance of Saint-Saëns’s Fifth Piano Concerto with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Michael Laus in December 2011. This was despite the pianist’s already advanced terminal illness of which she showed no sign but which unfortunately claimed her life in June 2012 aged just 59.
This popular pianist had distinguished herself when she studied at the Paris Conservatoire and later furthered her studies with Stanislav Neuhaus at Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Her nine years in the former Soviet Union were crucial to her development as an artist, which is why Bruno Robilliard has chosen an all-Russian repertoire for this tribute to Brigitte Engerer. He shall perform works which were among her favourites such as Tchaikovsky’s Dumka in C minor, Op. 59, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Rakhmaninov’s Études-tableaux Opp. 33 and 39 and Prokofiev’s Sonata N. 2 in D minor, Op. 14.
Bruno Robilliard studied at the Lyon Conservatoire and later the Paris Conservatoire National Superieur. He has distinguished himself both as a solo pianist, as a member of chamber ensembles and with various orchestras under distinguished conductors in France and abroad. He won various prizes for piano as well as chamber performances. He has featured prominently in the musical life of Lyon as accompanist, teacher in the field of chamber music and sight-reading. He has performed at the Lyon Opéra under Kent Nagano, with the National Orchestra of Tokyo and under David Robertson with the Lyon National Orchestra. With Grame Studios of Lyon he has collaborated in contemporary music and interactive electro-acoustics. He performs among others with the Debussy Quartet, the Ravel Quartet and several distinguished chamber musicians. Bruno Robilliard has taken part in many festivals in France and abroad and among other conductors he has worked with are Mark Foster, Pascal Verrot, Claude Bardon, Yves Coyral, Philippe Fournier and Stephen Asburmry.
The Tribute to Brigitte Engerer starts at 8pm on Tuesday 23rd April with a pre-show talk by Neil Briscoe-White at 7.15pm.
Booking: www.teatrumanoel.com.mt Email: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt Tel. 2124 6389
