Leonardo De Nigris & Leonardo Merlini – Winners of the Open Call

Two premieres in one concert! Firstly, the Young Piano Series is giving two young pianists the opportunity to perform with an orchestra for the first time. Secondly, the soloists performing have been selected by a jury made up of our own audience – in other words, you. Pianists from all over Switzerland applied to perform with an orchestra as part of the Young Piano Series. After long and intensive discussions, the audience jury finally made its choice.

Leonardo De Nigris, who was born in Ticino, impressed the jury with his extremely colorful and emotionally powerful interpretation of Mozart. By giving every note meaning, he is able to touch the hearts of his listeners and bring a smile to their faces.

You will also see Leonardo Merlini on stage, who captivated the jury despite his young age with his powerful, brilliant, and extremely precise performance of Shostakovich.

The two pianists will be accompanied by the Sinfonietta Bern ensemble, which aims to give young, up-and-coming musicians in Switzerland the opportunity to perform with an orchestra. Igor Andreev, co-director of the Young Piano Series, will conduct the orchestra.

Concert program:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Piano Concerto in A major, K. 414 (1782)
Allegro – Andante – Rondeau

Break

Alfred Schnittke (1934–1998)
Suite in the Old Style for Chamber Orchestra (1972/1987)
Pastoral – Ballet – Minuet – Fugue – Pantomime

Dmitri Shostakovich (1907–1975)
Concerto No. 1 in C minor for piano, trumpet, and string orchestra, Op. 35 (1933)
Allegretto – Lento – Moderato – Allegro con brio

Bern Sinfonietta

Date and time
January 24, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

Address
Zentrum Paul Klee, Martha Müller Auditorium, Monument im Fruchtland 3, 3006 Bern

Organizer
Young Piano Series

Management
Igor Andreev, conductor

Soloists
Leonardo De Nigris, piano; Leonardo Merlini, piano

Admission price
CHF 50.00 / 15.00

Contact us
info@youngpianoseries.ch

Website
https://www.youngpianoseries.ch