Pierluigi Sampietro Will Perform A Rare U.S. Recital,

To Benefit Hospital’s Pediatric Programs

RIDGEFIELD — In a rare US appearance, the legendary Italian classical pianist Maestro Professor Pierluigi Sampietro will perform at The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies & The Performing Arts on Saturday, April 16, at 8 pm. The recital will be a benefit for Danbury Hospital’s pediatric programs.

The Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics, with its award-winning programs for childhood immunization, asthma management and outreach to the community, includes more than 60 board certified pediatricians and pediatrician specialists to serve the region’s growing families and a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit offering advanced care for premature babies.

Hailed by his colleagues and critics as a “mystic pianist,” “musical prodigy” and a “talent beyond compare,” Maestro Sampietro recently returned from a recital tour of northern Italy, where his work was called “magical,” “enchanting” and “unique” by the best musicians in the world and the media alike.

The current recital tour is the first in many years for Maestro Sampietro, who, up until 2000, had not performed in 35 years. During this 35-year seclusion, except for an occasional benefit recital, he studied the great composers, fine-tuned his technical skills and further developed his unique performance style at his Westchester home.

In the year 2000, the maestro came out of seclusion, making his triumphant recital return to Salzburg, Austria, where he had graduated at the age of 19 from the Mozarteum Conservatory of Salzburg as a young pianist, composer and conductor. From there, he brought his tour back to the United States, performing at universities in New York, Philadelphia and Washington.

The pianist puts his heart and soul into his work, whether he is performing the music of Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Chopin or others. His work is said to be a “pianistic show … where he plays and explains charismatically, piece by piece, the inside formation and the soul of the composer.”

Tickets range from $25 for balcony seating to $300 for two orchestra seats. Special sponsorship packages are also available, and include a reception with the pianist.

For additional information or reservations, call Danbury Hospital’s Development Fund at 797-7227.

 April 16: Classical Pianist Maestro Professor Pierluigi Sampietro at The Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Ave, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $25-$300, special performance by pianist