(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 4:00pm, Altamura Legacy Concerts (ALC) will present Moonlight in the Afternoon at Princeton UMC (located on Nassau Street at Vandeventer Avenue.) The concert features the Italian pianist Francesco Mazzonetto from Turin, Italy in a recital of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, plus works by Clemente, Liszt and the Italian film score composer Ezio Bosso.

As part of his artistic residency at Altamura Legacy Concerts, Mr. Mazzonetto will also be giving a masterclass which will be open to the public on Friday, February 20th at 6:30pm at the Steinway & Sons Showroom in the Windsor Green Shopping Center off Rt. 1 South.

Opening for the Italian pianist will be a pre-concert at 3:30pm with four young students of artistic director Cristina Altamura (Princeton Piano Arts Academy), fresh from winning first prizes in their age categories at Italy’s venerable Osimo International Piano Competition this past December 2025. General Admission is free and unticketed with a suggested donation of $30 (cash or Venmo at the door).

Photo Credit: Maria Grazia Facciolá

Headlining the concert, Francesco Mazzonetto (himself a seasoned first prize winner of several international competitions including the Osimo mentioned above, and notably the Concours Musical de France in Paris and the “Lazar Berman” International Piano Competition) leads us through a program that opens with piano favorites like Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata op. 27 no. 2, and closes with atmospheric film score music by Ezio Bosso. Last Spring 2024, Mr. Mazzonetto released his second album for SONY MUSIC called Italian Piano Works Vol. II which features some of the music on this program.

An ongoing mission of this concert series is to present excellent local piano students – Legacy Arts International (LAI) Youth Ambassadors - alongside distinguished veterans of the concert stage. The prize-winning performers on this program include Princeton residents, Felix Ma (age 9) – winning with a perfect score the First Prize Overall (Primo Premio Assoluto), Mabel Treuting (age 12) - First Prize, Aria Malneedy, (age 9) - First Prize, and Somerset resident Yajur Subramaniam (age 12) - First Prize.

As participants of the historic Italian competition founded in 1968, they got to attend concerts every evening and perform at the Teatro La Nuova Fenice built in the 1700s. The restored jewel box theatre is one of the main music venues of Osimo, a small medieval hilltop town located a few miles from the city of Ancona on the Adriatic Sea.

“Osimo is the perfect platform for young pianists who are competing for the first time internationally, because the standards are high within an encouraging and supportive environment. They can measure themselves against young musicians from around the globe of similar age and training, returning home with a heightened sense of their capacity for excellence. The kids are excited to celebrate this accomplishment with Princeton’s music-loving community,” said Cristina Altamura who coached, prepared, and led the students.

A former Fulbright Scholar to Italy and internationally acclaimed concert pianist, Altamura has maintained a highly respected private piano studio in NJ and NY for 25 years (15 years in Hoboken and Manhattan and the last 10 in Princeton.) Having served on the music faculty of the United Nations International School as well, she believes that cultural exchange and travel is essential to a young artist’s development.  

TICKET INFORMATION - General Admission: FREE and unticketed with a suggested donation of $30 (cash or mobile pay at the door). 

Proceeds from donations supports and funds Legacy Arts International’s music mentorship programs such as the All-Abilities Music Creation Project and the LAI Youth Ambassadors which provides exceptional music students with unique performance opportunities alongside established artists. 

Altamura Legacy Concerts is a concert series developed in 2023 by pianist and artistic director Cristina Altamura, featuring herself and a roster of guest artists performing on a newly restored 1924 Steinway B grand piano at Princeton United Methodist Church, home of the majestic Tiffany stained-glass window depicting St. George that graces its façade. Guest artists range from some of Italy’s and Russia’s most illustrious piano masters, to New York’s current avant-garde, to Princeton’s own community of distinguished pianists. 

Registered as Inter-Cities Performing Arts, Inc. 501©3, Legacy Arts International is a Princeton-based non-profit musical arts organization which facilitates cultural exchange, initiates performances and educational programs to build vibrant artistic communities, and documents important artistic legacies.