If I Loved You brings together beautiful melodies from the world of popular song, classic musicals and the world’s concert stages.
Included are selections from Noel Coward, Cole Porter, Camelot and Carousel, songs in Spanish including the show-stopper, Granada, inspirational moments and celebrated classical art-song by Faure, Tchaikovsky and others. Federico Freschi and Christopher Duigan are joined by visiting saxophonist from Barcelona David Salleras who adds a haunting touch with improvised interludes and countermelodies to these well-known selections.
Feel a touch of nostalgia in this sensitively crafted programme.
Baritone: Federico Freschi
Saxophone: David Salleras
Piano: Christopher Duigan
After completing postgraduate studies in History of Art, baritone FEDERICO FRESCHI studied towards a Performer’s Diploma in Opera at the UCT College of Music. He subsequently sang with the CAPAB Singers’ Studio, appearing in a number of operas, operettas and musicals. Returning to Johannesburg, Federico has performed several roles, including Germont in La Traviata, Marcello in La Bohème, Dr Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Danilo in The Merry Widow, and Zurga in Les Pêcheurs de Perles, amongst others. Following a period as an associate professor in History of Art at the University of the Witwatersrand and director of the Goodman Gallery, Cape Town, in January 2013 Federico was appointed a full professor in, and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Johannesburg. He maintains a regular concert schedule in collaboration with Christopher Duigan.
DAVID SALLERAS completed his studies at the Superior Music Conservatory of Barcelona, with distinction, when only 18. He won a Spanish government scholarship to continue his studies in Paris, France with Jean-Yves Fourmeau and Nicolas Prost, winning the Gold Medal in their conservatoires. He later distinguished himself, showing an outstanding sense of improvisation, blending classical, contemporary music and traditional Spanish music idioms. His flexibility and knowledge of multiple musical genres, coupled with his unique ideas, has resulted in a highly successful international career. The recipient of numerous international awards, he has given concert performances in Europe, South Africa and South America.
David Salleras is Selmer and Vandoren Artist. His works are published by Edition Dinsic (Barcelona) and Edition Billaudot (Paris) are performed and recorded by saxophonists from around the world. Salleras recently created a new music publisher “Klo” Editions. Since 2008 David Salleras has taught at the National Conservatoire of Girona (Spain).
Widely regarded as one of South Africa’s leading concert pianists CHRISTOPHER DUIGAN has been recognized as a ‘South African piano icon’ and ‘national musical treasure’ (Classic Feel June 2009). He has performed extensively, maintaining a highly visible career in South Africa over the last 25 year, with all major South African orchestras in a repertoire of more than 25 works for piano and orchestra. In recital he has developed a popular following through his innovative presentation and programming of a broad and eclectic taste in music.
Based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands he is committed to promoting concert performance, both his own and those of others. He is the director of the widely acclaimed MUSIC REVIVAL which he established in 1997, presenting and playing over 100 concerts annually. Major projects include the Concert Series at the Hilton Arts Festival, the Franschhoek Classic Music Festival, monthly performances across KZN, and regular seasons of concert appearances in the Cape Town, Franschhoek and Gauteng. Christopher Duigan is a Steinway Artist.