Firenze: Palazzo Tornabuoni and British Institute

In May I was fortunate to perform two recitals for members and guests of two iconic institutions in Florence: Palazzo Tornabuoni and the British Institute.

Arriving in Florence - Always a relief to come to the river and see the sweeping view of iconic buildings on both banks of the Arno.

Palazzo Tornabuoni is somewhere I have performed multiple times now and I am always so warmly welcomed and almost feel part of the family there now!

I performed Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata, Fauré Nocturne No. 1, Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca 123, and finishing with the classic Verdi/Liszt Rigoletto Paraphrase.

My first visit and performance at the British Institute Florence was a great success. The setting is particularly memorable, overlooking the River Arno, in the Harold Acton library surrounded by books in English and Italian. The 100+ year old Bechstein had a lovely tone, and held up well against my onslaught of notes as I performed Etudes by Chopin, Ligeti and Rachmaninoff!

Here are some photographs from my trip:

1. View from Palazzo Tornabuoni

2. Just before going on to perform at Palazzo Tornabuoni

3. View from the village of Linari, Barberino

4. Graffiti near the Duomo

5. Outside the Pitti Palace

6. The Harold Acton Library at the British Institute

7. Graffiti near the train station

8. View of the Alps fom the plane