Mario Perestegi, a musician from Croatia presented his artistic skills on Friday, and on Sunday it was Marco Giovannardi from Italy. Mihail, Marton, Marek, Mario, Marco... It seems that this year the participants of the organ festival were selected by their initials! But, the most important thing that unites all the mentioned performers is - skill.
On Mario's concert the regular listeners present in the Hall for organ and chamber music were given pure pastoral pictures, ones that show nurtured green forests and snow-white sheep grazing. The selected pieces were so refined and original and the sound of the magnificent, strong instrument was miraculous and clear that it seemed you could hear the softest shepherd pipe. Mario Perestegi led the listeners, literally hypnotising them with music. The works of Croatian composers were played in our Hall for the first time and at the same time, gained followers due to their original musical spectrum and the skilfulness of the organ player.
author: Marina Tretjakova
Soči - Вторник, 28 Июль, 2009.
… During the past few years of the Festival he was the first organ player who during the final applause of the audience with a hand gesture and with great respect pointed to Engler's instrument whose quality he was able to witness in its entirety.
The attention that was noticeable in the organ player's deep respect for the instrument was also obvious in his interpretation of each and every work. It was evident that Mario Perestegi is not only a technician, but also a musician with a «soul» and a «heart».
At the concert on Monday, pieces composed by Bach, Hindemith, Saint-Saёns, Dugan, Klobučar and Alain were heard.
The selection of the works pleased the audience, because they were pieces with a live melody, sometimes even dramatic tension, but simultaneously respecting the lyric foundation.
This was a concert that was not only listened to, but also experienced. The listeners accepted this event with gratitude.
Author: Bohumír Kolář
Olomouc «Dnevnik» 13. 9. 2006
«The multitude of coloring and registration from Mario Perestegi»
- Il' Picolo – Trieste / 1997
«A modest organ player proved his mastership»
- ...and that was the way that the organ sonata «Intra vitam mortemque» (J. Magdić) was created, and Perestegi with his moving and enchanting performance has deeply touched the audience
- ... Perestegi has shown the results of working with the great organ player Marie-Claire Alain in the interpretation of abundantly rich French organ literature. «Suite du deuxieme ton» was ideally chosen to show Perestegi's great artistry in registration and articulation of the musical text.
- ... Perestegi played the Prelude, fugue and variation Op. 18 by C. Franck with a remarkable feeling for the melody and a surprising ability to present the piece as a unique whole.
- .... The grand finale of a demonstration of the unquestionable organ mastership was the Second sonata by D. Hindemith
- .... long and loud applause followed the concert of this remarkable organ player
- Jutarnji list, 28/6/2001
«A task well-done»
- ... a rich evening which rediscovered, in a very special way, the beauty and richness of the sound of organs from Split cathedral. Mario Perestegi's concert drew attention to the forgotten jewel among the instruments.
- .... followed by Bach's choral «Sie gegrüsset, Jesu gütig» with 11 variations. Perestegi' performance matched the master work. The variations were reflected in an interesting choice of registers, which contributed to the sound contrasts and performance dynamics.
- ... Hindemith's Third sonata introduced a world of modern music with the most expressive touch of impressionism in its middle movement.
- ... Dazzling spiritual warmth aroused from the performance of «Ad Pavlinos» written by Perestegi's former professor, Andjelko Klobučar.
Slobodna Dalmacija, 21/5/2001
49. Split Summer festival – Music programme
Register's play
.... The rich polyphony of Pintarić's fugue, the diversity of colorings and shadings of Cipra's phantasy and shattering Magdić's vision of the war-torn Sarajevo in 1994. were suitably presented by Mario Perestegi. And as if they gave him a new inspiration and artistic zeal, Perestegi showed equal mastery in performing Bach's choral prelude at the end of his recital.
Alisa Čakarun, Slobodna Dalmacija, 08.08.2003.
Perestegi is undoubtedly excellent in performing the music of Croatian composers: Prelude and fugue in d-minor, by a Franciscan organ player and composer, Fortunat Pintarić; Andante sostenuto by Milo Cipra and Intra vitam mortemque, op. 164 by Josip Magdić.
As if freed from the strict canons of baroque music form, Perestegi adds to their interpretation an emotional vigor of lyrical moments, presenting a multitude of emotions and feelings which provide the listener with a rich musical experience.
For the memorable ending of the concert, Perestegi chooses Magdić's composition, composed in war-torn Sarajevo in 1994, in which he brilliantly brings out the feeling of balancing between life and death.
....... he proved himself as brilliant and capable interpreter.
K. Mičić, Zadarski list, 9.8.2003.