Timeless like a broken watch: Marino Formenti in recital

“I always hated the Diabelli Variations,” writes Marino Formenti.  Coming from any other pianist, this would sound like a confession.

Marino Formenti is not “any other pianist.”

The Italian-born musician only began studying Beethoven’s meandering piano work at the recent request of Dean Corey, President and Artistic Director of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.  The organization is in the midst of presenting all of Beethoven’s late works, and Mr. Corey is very familiar  with Mr. Formenti’s ouvre, going back to the late lamented Eclectic Orange Festival.  By bringing the new music specialist to Segerstrom Concert Hall to play this particular touchstone of Beethoven’s late period, Mr. Corey was clearly going for something a bit unexpected.

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