{"id":124676,"date":"2026-05-29T14:09:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T18:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=124676"},"modified":"2026-05-29T14:09:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T18:09:54","slug":"interview-andrea-botticelli-talks-early-keyboard-festival-newmarket-june","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/05\/29\/interview-andrea-botticelli-talks-early-keyboard-festival-newmarket-june\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Andrea Botticelli Talks About The Early Keyboard Festival In Newmarket This June"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_124684\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-124684\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-124684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-8.jpg\" alt=\"A newly commissioned French double-manual Hemsch harpsichord (Photo courtesy of C\u00e9leste Music)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-8.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-8-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-8-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-8-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-124684\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A newly commissioned French double-manual Hemsch harpsichord (Photo courtesy of C\u00e9leste Music)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>C\u00e9leste Music, in partnership with the Town of Newmarket, is presenting the<strong> Early Keyboard Festival<\/strong> that will take over the Serpa Galleries in Old Town Hall for the month of <strong>June 2026<\/strong>. C\u00e9leste Music\u2019s collection of rare early keyboards, both originals and reproductions, will be on view in a living, interactive exhibit.<\/p>\n<p>People will have multiple opportunities to experience the instruments as both music students and audience members from performances to free public masterclasses and lectures.<\/p>\n<p>Five concerts will be performed by a roster of professional Canadian and international performers, including members of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, and faculty members of The Juilliard School, McGill University, University of Toronto, and Western University.<\/p>\n<p>LV spoke to C\u00e9leste Music\u2019s <strong>Andrea Botticelli<\/strong> about the festival.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_124680\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-124680\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-124680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-9.jpg\" alt=\"L: An original Viennese Rosenberger fortepiano (ca. 1800); An original Viennese Graf fortepiano (1835) (Photos courtesy of C\u00e9leste Music)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-9.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-9-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-9-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-9-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-124680\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">L: An original Viennese Rosenberger fortepiano (ca. 1800); An original Viennese Graf fortepiano (1835) (Photos courtesy of C\u00e9leste Music)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Festival Events<\/h2>\n<p>Along with the professional concerts, masterclasses and lectures, there will be an adjoining student competition and festival, which opens up the rare keyboard collection for performance by young, aspiring musicians.<\/p>\n<p>There will be <strong>five concert<\/strong>s, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Beethoven @ 1800 (Friday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m.)<\/li>\n<li>Elegy and Fantasy (Sunday, June 14 at 2:00 p.m.)<\/li>\n<li>In Illustrious Company at the Graf Piano (Sunday, June 21 at 2:00 p.m.)<\/li>\n<li>C\u00e9leste Music Academy Festival Showcase Concert (Saturday, June 27 at 2:00 p.m.)<\/li>\n<li>Voyage to Versailles (Sunday, June 28 at 2:00 p.m.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Other events:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>June 6, 7, 26: Masterclasses with Andrea Botticelli, Charlotte Nediger<\/li>\n<li>June 18, 19: C\u00e9leste Music Academy Festival Competition Classes<\/li>\n<li>June 20: Piano Technician\u2019s Workshop<\/li>\n<li>June 26: Adult Performance Class<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All events take place in the Serpa Galleries at Old Town Hall in Newmarket, Ontario.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Instruments<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The instruments from the C\u00e9leste Music collection that are featured in concert include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A newly commissioned French double-manual Hemsch harpsichord;<\/li>\n<li>An original English Broadwood fortepiano (1807);<\/li>\n<li>An original Viennese Rosenberger fortepiano (ca. 1800);<\/li>\n<li>An original Viennese Graf fortepiano (1835).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Along with the instruments that you\u2019ll be able to hear in performance, the entire C\u00e9leste Music historical keyboard collection will be on display for the public.<\/p>\n<p>Andrea Botticelli performs on the fortepiano:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uTT3GiF69Cw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>Andrea Botticelli: The Interview<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cThis is the first time that we&#8217;re attempting a festival of this magnitude,\u201d Botticelli explains. In 2025, C\u00e9leste Music presented one concert in kind of a trial run. \u201cIt&#8217;s coming off the heels of last year&#8217;s event, [where it] was really, really heartening to see the interest in these kind of concerts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The event not only sold out, but organizers had to add extra chairs to accommodate everyone interested. She reports there was a wide variety of music lovers among the audience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince then, we&#8217;ve given more informal, doors open type events.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Feedback has told her that there is an ongoing fascination with these instruments. For musicians and classical music aficionados, performance is also a big draw.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can speak personally as a musician, the appeal of the instrument is hearing the repertoire that you thought you knew really well [&#8230;] in a fresh way.\u201d There are specific elements that was written into the music of the 18th and 19th centuries that you may be able to hear for the first time. While it\u2019s looking back to previous centuries, the experience nonetheless offers up a new way of thinking for modern listeners.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is kind of a novel way of hearing this music for us nowadays,\u201d Andrea says. \u201cIt kind of opens up more of a spirit of experimentation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As she points out, it also offers a version of a piece that is closer to the composer\u2019s own conception of the music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen these pieces first premiered, I think it was that same kind of excitement.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_124682\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-124682\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-124682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/5Broadwood-sn3694-bj1807_-edited-copy.jpg\" alt=\"An original English Broadwood fortepiano (1807) (Photo courtesy of C\u00e9leste Music)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"803\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/5Broadwood-sn3694-bj1807_-edited-copy.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/5Broadwood-sn3694-bj1807_-edited-copy-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/5Broadwood-sn3694-bj1807_-edited-copy-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/5Broadwood-sn3694-bj1807_-edited-copy-768x514.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-124682\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An original English Broadwood fortepiano (1807) (Photo courtesy of C\u00e9leste Music)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Performance on Period Instruments<\/h3>\n<p>The C\u00e9leste Music collection offers a diverse variety of beautifully crafted instruments. \u201cYou can get an idea of how pivotal these pieces of technology were in their time,\u201d she says. Many influenced trends in music composition of their era by reason of their capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>As Botticelli points out, working with a modern piano which can play everything from Rachmaninoff to Gershwin, Bach to Hania Rani is a different experience. \u201cWhen you play the music on this kind of instrument, where it&#8217;s really all it can manage, you get an appreciation of how revolutionary the music was.\u201d Much of the music of the time pushes the limits of the instrument, as she points out.<\/p>\n<p>Other elements speak to the physical layout of the modern piano vs its predecessors. \u201cAn example of that is the pedal,\u201d she explains. \u201cWhat we call the pedal nowadays, on the earlier fortepiano was a knee lever.\u201d Its use quite likely differed significantly from the way pedals are employed today. \u201cThe kind of syncopation and ease we are now used to, it\u2019s not necessarily as possible,\u201d Andrea adds.<\/p>\n<p>The instruments\u2019 overall colour of sound, and performance techniques, leave an impression \u2014 even on non-keyboard players. \u201cI&#8217;ve heard comments like wow, it sounds so fresh. Earlier keyboard instruments have a little more lightness, a little more clarity, even a sparkling quality,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>The interplay between the older keyboards and other instruments in concert is a little more equal in terms of volume; the older instruments aren\u2019t as loud as the modern piano.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey felt that it was more of an equal conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fortepianist Riko Fukuda performs Franz Schubert&#8217;s Adagio from the Sonate in c minor, D 958:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IHyIPzgRyaw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Concerts<\/h3>\n<p>The performances look to emulate the intimate ambience of the salon concerts of the 18th and 19th centuries, where there was ongoing communication between the artists and audience.<\/p>\n<p>The performers in concert are all specialists in period instruments and music. From Tafelmusik, there will be Artistic Co-Director and Principal Bassoon <strong>Dominic Teresi<\/strong> and oboist <strong>Daniel Ram\u00edrez Escudero<\/strong>. They are jointed by <strong>Andrea Botticelli,<\/strong> Quebec\u2019s <strong>Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Normand<\/strong> on clarinet, and natural horn player\/physicist <strong>Yoni Kahn<\/strong> for the Beethoven concert that opens the Festival.<\/p>\n<p>Japanese-Dutch fortepianist <strong>Riko Fukuda<\/strong> will perform in the Elegy and Fantasy concert on the English Broadwood fortepiano. She\u2019ll be playing Dussek\u2019s \u00c9l\u00e9gie harmonique, Op. 61 and Le Retour \u00e0 Paris, Op. 64, along with Schubert\u2019s Grand Rondo, D. 951. Fukuda is sharing the bill with Toronto\u2019s <strong>Charlotte Tang<\/strong>, who\u2019ll play a Schumann fantasy on the Conrad Graf fortepiano.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Patricia Garcia Gil<\/strong>, the current Postdoctoral Associate and Artist in Residence at the Cornell Center for Historical Keyboards at Cornell University, will perform a recital of music on the Graf fortepiano by little known and women composers, including pieces by Clara Schumann and Delphine von Schauroth, along with music by Beethoven and Liszt.<\/p>\n<p>Borys Medicky of the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University performs at the Festival\u2019s closing concert, Voyage to Versailles, on the newly built French double-manual Hemsch harpsichord. He\u2019ll be joined by flautist <strong>Alison Melville<\/strong>, viola da gambist <strong>Felix De\u00e1k<\/strong>, and violinist <strong>Cristina Prats Costa<\/strong> in a program of French Baroque that includes music by Jacquet de La Guerre, Fran\u00e7ois Couperin, Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Jacques Duphly, and Jean-Philippe Rameau<\/p>\n<p>Tafelmusik\u2019s keyboardist <strong>Charlotte Nediger<\/strong> will conduct the harpsichord workshop, and Dutch fortepiano restorer and technician <strong>Edwin Beunk<\/strong> will give the Piano Technician\u2019s Workshop.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s really exciting that we&#8217;ve been getting a lot of positive interest,\u201d Andrea says. \u201cWe really feel like it&#8217;s a very special event that&#8217;s going on for the month of June.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Details<\/h2>\n<p>C\u00e9leste Music is a charitable organization. Note that seating is limited.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find concert details [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.celestemusic.org\/festival2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>], and tickets [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/secure1.tixhub.com\/newmarket\/online\/b_otix.asp?cboPerformances=3393&amp;cboEvent=1589&amp;perfcount=5&amp;width=1265\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a;\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>events<\/u><\/a> happening this weekend? Send us a <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>C\u00e9leste Music, in partnership with the Town of Newmarket, is presenting the Early Keyboard Festival that will take over the Serpa Galleries in Old Town Hall for the month of June 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":124684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[42533,74,10,76,19,29,3693,46,47,4557,63],"tags":[41874,41873,26610,42966,6458,28881],"yst_prominent_words":[6616],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-8.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-wqU","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124676"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124676"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":124685,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124676\/revisions\/124685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124676"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=124676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}