Biography - Discography - Reviews - Compositions - Writings
Fabio
Grasso - Biography
Fabio
Grasso aims to recreate a figure of musician that
keeps together the aspect of virtuoso pianist, with wide-ranging classical and
contemporary repertoire, and that of all-round cultivated composer, firmly
anchored to the aesthetic heritage of the European historical avantgarde, not only interested in piano music, but also in
chamber, symphonic and theatrical fields, whose creative research focuses on
the construction of a strongly characterized harmonic language.
STUDIES
AND TEACHING
Born
in Vercelli (Italy, 1969), he began the musical
studies in his town under the guidance of Mario Barasolo
and Jean Micault. He took the Piano Degree at 17 with
full marks and the mention ad honorem (Conservatory
of Turin, section Cuneo).
In
1994 he obtained the Degree in Composition at the Conservatory of Milan, where
he had as teachers Sandro Gorli,
Umberto Rotondi, Guido Salvetti
and Guido Guida.
In
1995 he became doctor of Classical Greek Literature with full marks (cum laude)
at Turin University, section Vercelli (currently Università del Piemonte Orientale).
He
attended the piano specialization courses of Marco Vincenzi
and subsequently of Maria Tipo at Fiesole Music School, where he was also student of the
composition special courses of Giacomo Manzoni.
He
followed other special courses, like a piano stage of Klaus Hellwig
at HdK Berlin, and a 3-years composition course of
Franco Donatoni.
At
last he obtained the new state doctor’s title in Piano with full marks and the
mention ad honorem at Vivaldi
Conservatory in Alessandria.
He
was full professor at Venice Conservatory from 2005 to 2021 - Score Reading,
Analysis, Piano courses for composers and conductors, other Piano thematic
courses. He is currently full professor at Vivaldi
Conservatory in Alessandria, for the same
disciplines.
PIANO ACTIVITY
In
1996 Fabio Grasso won the Orléans
International Piano Competition, the most important competition dedicated to
the modern and contemporary piano music worldwide. In this occasion he was
highly appreciated both as interpreter and as composer. Subsequently he was
invited to play for Orléans Orchestra season, Radio
France Montpellier and Paris (recitals, Concertos by Mozart, Beethoven and Ligeti), Colmar Festival,
Parisian series of CNSM, Salle Cortot, Théâtre du Châtelet
and Salle Gaveau, where he performed his own Suite. In 2012 as jury member of the Orléans Competition he held its opening recital, premiering
his own Fantasia Veni
Creator Spiritus..
Download reviews – Listen to the
Fantasy on YouTube
He recorded 3 CDs for the French label SOLSTICE: in
1998 Busoni’s Elegies, Toccata, Albumblätter (this CD got the Recommendation
by Répertoire and the CHOC du mois by Le monde
de la musique), in 2002 6 Études and
8 Morceaux by Anton Rubinstein (first world recordings), and in 2004
Schumann’s Carnaval
and Symphonic Etudes with Posthumous
Variations, which got excellent reviews.
Moreover he recorded the 5 Fugues and a choice of 9
Sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti for Euterp.
Among the more recent recordings: Chopin MP3 Album 14 Valses & Fantaisie op. 49
See DISCOGRAPHY
Finalist of
the Busoni Competition in 1999, Fabio Grasso is able
to propose extremely varied recital programmes, with classical, romantic and
modern-contemporary repertoire, including the works composed by himself.
Related
links:
Read
as an example this PIANO RECITAL
PROGRAM
Visit the Virtual Recital "Shrines of
Memory" - six piano works @ rosenfinger.com
Between
2007 and 2011 he performed BEETHOVEN'S COMPLETE SONATAS for the Viotti Society in Vercelli,
ending the cycle by the Hammerklavier Sonata op. 106 and the Diabelli Variations in the same recital.
Read
the BEETHOVEN PROJECT page, with the review of the last concert and the complete program
notes.
Another
large-sized series concerns SCHUMANN'S MAJOR PIANO WORKS, performed in Venice
(Concerts at German-Italian Cultural Association) from 2013 to 2021 in nine
recitals along a non-chronological route, based on the literary and
philosophical background.
See Schumann Links at Rosenfinger Home Page
In
collaboration with the pianist and composer Letizia Michielon
he performed, both as shared recital and in the form of
recital with masterclass, the complete Ligeti’s Etudes,
as well as other multicultural shared contemporary programmes, mixed two and
four hands, often in connection with themes of the figurative art, for several
important European and American institutions, including Berlin BKA Theater and the musical Universities of New York (NYU),
Vienna (MDW), Montreal (McGill) and Warsaw (Chopin Academy).
See Schumann Links at Rosenfinger Home Page
COMPOSITIONAL
ACTIVITY
In
1996 Fabio Grasso was the winner of the Ginastera Compeition First Prize
with Katoptroeidès for guitar and orchestra, premiered in
Buenos Aires, Teatro Colón.
In 1999 he won the
Prize Journées de la jeune musique de Marseille with the piece for 11 instruments La Sérénade aux tristes ourires, awarded with
unanimous vote of the jury and the special mention of the public, and performed
by the Ensemble Télémaque.
Fabio
Grasso shows his varied compositional research in a
catalogue which includes instrumental and vocal solo, chamber and symphonic
compositions, performed by himself and by other players (always with high
appreciation of his writing) in prestigious European and American venues.
Related
links:
-
CATALOGUE OF THE COMPOSITIONS
-
Listen to the piece for ensemble HEX-A-GON, Amsterdam
Gaudeamus Week 1998
-
Read the NY Times and Musical America articles about Blumentraum
performed
in New York, Merkin Hall (WSCMS season 2010)
- Essay about...As doth eternity... WSCMS 2018, New York
In
2018 Fabio Grasso presented at New York University
and at Lehigh University, (Pennsylvania) one of his most recent piano works,
the 12 Études triptyques.
Several
Fabio Grasso's works are inspired by literary themes.
Some examples:
Listen to Tháleia, homage to
E. Dickinson
Listen to Barcarolle
du rêve vespéral,
homage to S. Mallarmé
Both
pieces were premiered in Venice, Teatro La Fenice
Listen to La danza segreta di Maeve, inspired by W.
B. Yeats
Read
and listen:
Der gefesselte Strom for two pianos (from Hölderlin)
A
relevant group of pieces of Fabio Grasso are inspired
by the ancient Greek poetry.
A
complete recording of them is in course of realization.
Biography - Discography - Reviews - Compositions - Writings