Donato Guipponi (Italy)
Donato Giupponi is a prominent organist, pianist, composer, arranger, and choir director from Bergamo, Italy. While in the United States, he teams up with soprano Veronica Bell and cellist John Walz for two concerts in the Los Angeles area.
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Friday, August 8, 2025 | 8:00 PM
Serenata in Tre
Donato Giupponi, piano
John Walz, cello
Veronica Bell, soprano
ATTENTION! VENUE
AND START TIME
CHANGE!
Dear friend! We have just been informed by Hollywood Piano that their air conditioner is out of service and will not be fixed till next week. Considering that the forecast for Friday, August 8, promises 104°F, we have moved the concert to a private residence at 4016 Cartwright Ave, Studio City, CA 91604. The start time is now 8 PM. The complementary champagne will be served at 7:30 PM. We hope very much you can still join us. Thank you, and we apologize for the inconvenience.
4016 Cartwright Ave., Studio City, CA 91604
FREE PARKING, COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE SERVED AT 7:30
Tickets $55.00 + tax
Sunday, August 3, 2025 | 5:00 PM
La Voce dell'Organo
Donato Giupponi, organ
Veronica Bell, soprano
First Congregational Church of Los Angeles
540 S Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
FREE PARKING
Tickets $55.00 + tax
Donato Giupponi, organ/piano
Born in Bergamo, Italy, Donato Giupponi has been serenading the world with the rich, resonant tones of the organ for over thirty years—a passion that blossomed in his childhood, fueled by the sound of his grandfather playing classical melodies on the organ at the small local church.
Donato's career is a tapestry woven from countless concert stages across the globe. From the majestic cathedrals of Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and almost every other Western and Eastern European country to the intimate churches and halls of Venezuela, Argentina, and Colombia, each performance has been a rollercoaster of eras, styles, and emotions.
As a pianist, composer, and arranger, Donato has breathed new life into the organ and piano repertoire, drawing on classical traditions and blending them with modern influences. His musical creations often include an unexpected twist, like a virtuosic fugue suddenly morphing into a lively tango.
Education is another cornerstone of Donato's illustrious career. Over the years, he has mentored countless young musicians, sharing his knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for the art. He is the founder of an International Choir Festival in his hometown of Bergmo that hosts a cappella groups from all over Europe.
Additionally, Donato is a passionate supporter and promoter of contemporary classical music, particularly works written by women composers.
Find out more at www.donatogiupponi.it
John Walz, cello
John Walz is a celebrated soloist and chamber music artist known for his dazzling virtuosity and elegant musicianship.
A student of the legendary French cellist Pierre Fournier, he has appeared as a soloist with over 150 symphony orchestras on four continents. His performances of twenty-five different concertos include both standard showcases and rarities, such as Martinů’s Concerto #1 and William Schuman’s Song of Orpheus. In 1979, Mr. Walz, along with pianist Edith Orloff, founded the Pacific Trio. Now performing with violinist Roger Wilkie, this renowned ensemble has played more than 900 concerts throughout North America and Europe.
Hailed by the LA Times as “combining singing warmth and clean virtuosity…[with] plenty of dashes, and just enough nuance”, Walz is currently the principal cellist with the Los Angeles Opera, a position he previously held for 20 years with the Long Beach Symphony.
His ever-expanding discography includes recordings of the concertos by Dvořák, Haydn, Shostakovich, Bloch, Martinů, and Vivaldi, and trios by Brahms, Dvořák, Smetana, and the newly released Pacific Trio CD featuring Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and Archduke Trio.
He is on the faculty of the Idyllwild Arts summer program and Academy.
This is John's second appearance with the BHI Music Festival. As a part of the Sord-Walz-Durkovic Trio, he performed in a concert at the Greystone Mansion in April 2025. Please enjoy the video on our MEDIA page.
Veronica Bell, soprano
Russian-born American soprano Veronica Bell has gained international acclaim for her beautiful tone and a uniquely charismatic and personal style. Her every live performance and studio recording, including the recent classical crossover album Midnight Affairs, is a reflection of her passionate and at times unconventional take on classical music.
Veronica has given countless concerts in the United States, Russia, Italy, France, Poland, Germany, Spain, Austria, Guatemala, and Thailand, where she was personally invited by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit to perform at the Royal Palace in Bangkok.
She has collaborated as a soloist with the Moscow State Symphony, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Capella Cracoviensis, Mimoda Jazzo, and the musical theater Wandering Stars, among others, and currently has an ongoing engagement with the Los Angeles-based Windsong Players Chamber Ensemble, performing a wide variety of music from the Baroque to modern periods.
Veronica won the Hollywood Music in Media Awards for her cross-gender operatic album Les Frissons D'Amour, which included arias for both male and female voices. She received a Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards for the same album. Ms. Bell also became a winner of the Clouzine International vocal competition and the Belgrade International Music Competition.
Ms. Bell has performed and recorded music by composers Maximilian Simončič (Slovakia), Ron Caviani (Italy), JJ Hollingsworth (USA), Arkady Serper (Russia), Ruben Aghiyan (Armenia/USA), and Carol Worthey (USA). Veronica's collaboration with Norwegian composer and guitarist Gisle Krogseth resulted in a concert tour in Italy, followed by a recording of Mr. Krogseth's song cycle, The Mountain Songs, which premiered with great success on Norwegian National Radio.
Veronica’s classical-crossover album Midnight Affairs and a recent Holiday album, Into the Wonderland, are currently being aired on over fifty radio stations in the US and Canada. Ms. Bell is currently working on two new albums and multiple concert programs. Her next European tours are scheduled for the fall of 2025 and spring of 2026.
