An Italian in England: A Musical Tribute to Francesco Ticciati (1893–1949)

St Mary’s Church, Old Amersham

Soprano Betty Makharinsky and pianist Pavel Timofeyevsky present a musical homage to the life and legacy of the Italian-born composer, pianist, teacher and musical pioneer Francesco Ticciati.

Born in Rome in 1893, Ticciati settled in Britain during the 1920s, building a distinguished career as a performer, lecturer

and composer. He appeared at the Proms, became a British citizen in 1936, and during the Second World War devoted himself to bringing music and encouragement to servicemen through concerts and lectures. In his later years he made his home in Amersham, where he fostered a thriving musical community through his concerts, teaching and tireless advocacy for the arts.

This programme traces the story of an “Italian in England” through music that shaped Ticciati’s life and career. Alongside songs by Ticciati himself are works by Sir Paolo Tosti, another Italian musician who found a second home in Britain, together with songs by Bellini and Rossini, celebrating the rich tradition of Italian song. Piano works by Scarlatti and Chopin recall repertoire frequently featured in Ticciati’s own recitals, while music by Mozart and Beethoven reflects the broader European tradition that formed the foundation of his musical world.

The programme also honours the wartime spirit of music-making through Myra Hess’s celebrated transcriptions of Bach, evoking the courage, resilience and solace that music brought to Britain during the darkest years of the twentieth century.

Part concert, part musical portrait, this evening celebrates the life of a remarkable musician whose journey from Rome to Amersham left an enduring mark on British musical life.