Foremost Italian pianist Fermo Roscigno will perform at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater Nov. 5, 8 p.m.

His repertoire will be from the Classical and Romantic periods, his forte. It will also pay tribute to Filipino music.

The repertoire will include Muzio Clementi’s Minuetto Pastorale, Symphony No. 3 “The Great National” and Concert in C Major for Piano and Orchestra (cadenzas by Fermo Roscigno), which will have its premiere in Southeast Asia that night.

Roscigno will play on a Fazioli, the newly acquired Italian piano of the CCP and the first of its kind in the Philippines. Fazioli is considered by many musicians to be the finest piano of today.

Manila’s diplomatic and social circles know Roscigno as the elder brother of Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Roscigno.

Fermo Roscigno studied piano under the tutelage of Vincenzo Vitale at the Conservatorio di Musica di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He also attended the specialist courses in Italian music in Venice.

His performances have included recitals and concerts in Italy and other countries.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), fresh from its acclaimed concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall, will be conducted by visiting Italian conductor Ruggero Barbieri who, for several years, served as music director and principal conductor of the PPO. He is the principal guest conductor of the Bergamo Musica Festival Gaetano Donizetti Orchestra.

Supporting the concert, apart from the CCP, are Rustan’s, the Philippine Italian Association (PIA), Calata Corp. and the embassy of Italy. Hotel sponsor is The Peninsula Manila.

Helping organize the concert are CCP president Dr. Raul Sunico, Rustan’s chair and PIA president Nedy Tantoco, and the PIA cultural committee headed by Silvana Diaz.