Splendor of Italian Baroque

The Connecticut Virtuosi & the members of Orchestra “Il Contrapunto” from Empoli (Italy) in performance of the most beautiful Italian baroque concertos.

In Program:
Giuseppe Valentini: Concerto in A minor for 4 violins, Op.7 No.11
Giuseppe Tartini: Violin Concerto in A major, GT 1.A09
Antonio Vivaldi:
Concerto For Harpsichord, Strings and Continuo RV 780
Concerto for 4 Violins in E minor, RV 550 (from L’estro armonico, Op.3)
Violin Concerto in E major, RV 269 “The Spring”

Admission by the Suggested Donation: $25
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About the Soloists:

Artistic Director of Orchestra “Il Contrapunto” from Empoli, Italian violinist Damiano Tognetti began musical studies at the age of seven with Maestro A.Fornai and graduated in 2001 from the “Boccherini” Musical Institute in Lucca under the guidance of Maestro A.Bologni. He was first violin and soloist of the institute’s orchestra. Having perfected his skills at the Fiesole Music School, he was the winner of several national competitions. Already a member of the Cherubini Orchestra of Piacenza directed by Riccardo Multi, he collaborates with various orchestras including Orchestra del Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, Orchestra Regionale of the Emilia Romagna Tuscan Foundation, Orchestra of Padua and Veneto, Venetian Regional Orchestra.

A principal member of the Orchestra “Il Contrapunto” Giacomo Benedetti is a dynamic Florentine musician celebrated for his versatility as organist, pianist, harpsichordist, cymbalist, and choir director. Trained at the Cherubini Conservatory and enriched by studies with masters such as Matteo Imbruno and Gustav Leonhardt, he performs widely across Europe, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. He has held prestigious church posts in Florence, collaborates with Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and appears with ensembles including Florence Sinfonietta, Armonia Ricercata, and Ensemble San Felice. A prizewinning competitor and passionate continuo player, Benedetti brings vibrant artistry to festivals, orchestras, and historic venues throughout Italy and abroad.

The Concert-master of the Connecticut Virtuosi Albanian‑American violinist Brunilda Myftaraj has earned enthusiastic praise for her expressive musicianship across Europe, Israel, Morocco, and the United States. Critics, including The New London Day, describe her as an “especially fine and beautiful player.” Her albums Naked Violin and The American Pie received outstanding reviews in Fanfare magazine, highlighting her inspired performances and masterful Bach interpretations. She contributed to the award‑winning Love’s Tango project and serves as Concertmaster of the Greve Opera Festival. Myftaraj also directs the Virtuosi Music Academy and Summer Music Institute in Farmington, teaching violin and chamber music.

Violinist Stephanie M. Ruddy performs throughout Connecticut as an orchestral musician, chamber artist, and soloist. She is a member of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and has appeared with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the New Britain Symphony Orchestra, and the Connecticut Symphony Orchestra. She is a founding member of the Musa String Quartet. A devoted interpreter of Baroque repertoire, she performed with the Hartt Collegium Musicum, studying performance practice with Emlyn Ngai. Stephanie holds both a B.F.A. and Graduate Professional Diploma in Violin Performance from the University of Hartford, where she studied with Anton Miller and Katie Lansdale. She is also a Suzuki violin instructor, teaching from her home studio in Litchfield, Connecticut.