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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 reviewsListen 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.

Listen on YouTube

 

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.

Listen on YouTube

 

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.

 

 

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