On December 12, 2015, Concertino, a recently discovered work for piano and orchestra by Giacinto Scelsi will be premiered in Amsterdam. In the same concert, Chinese-American composer Huang Ruo will start his residency at the Concertgebouw with a new piano concerto.

Giacinto Scelsi’s Concertino for piano and orchestra belongs to the first creative phase of the noted Italian composer. Believed to have been completed around 1934, it appears that this work has not yet been performed. The piece was written for a modestly-sized orchestra with a large brass section, and divided into three movements.

The score was found amongst Scelsi’s papers held in the Archives of the Isabella Scelsi Foundation (Rome), which conserves and promotes the artistic and cultural legacy of the composer. Although it does not appear in the catalogue of musical works that Scelsi himself entrusted to his publisher Salabert in the final years of his life, the Concertino appears to be complete and ready for performance.

The Concertino has been subject to careful analysis and revision by pianist Emanuele Arciuli and the scientific director of the foundation, Alessandra Carlotta Pellegrini, in preparation for its publication by Editions Salabert (Paris).

The world premiere of the Concertino will take place in Amsterdam on 12 December 2015 with soloist Emanuele Arciuli, conducted by Emilio Pomárico.

Have a look at the score