Fabio Grasso – 1996

FABIO GRASSO, born in Vercelli (Italy), began the musical studies in his town with Mario Barasolo and Jean Micault. He took the Piano Degree in 1986 with full marks and the mention ad honorem (Conservatory of Turin). In 1994 he obtained the Degree in Experimental Composition at the Conservatory of Milan, where he had as teachers Sandro Gorli, Umberto Rotondi and Guido Guida. In 1995 he became at last Doctor in Ancient Greek Literature with full marks. He accomplished specialization studies of Piano, at first with Marco Vincenzi, then with Maria Tipo (1991-1993) at Fiesole Music School, and of Composition with Giacomo Manzoni at the same school (1993-1996). He also attended other special courses, like a piano stage at HdK Berlin with Klaus Hellwig, and a 3-years composition course of Franco Donatoni. At last he obtained the new National Doctor’s Degree (biennial superior academic course) in Piano with full marks and the mention ad honorem at the Conservatory of Alessandria. He is currently teaching at the Conservatory of Venice.

In March 1996 he won the Orléans International Piano Competition XXème siècle (getting both the Grand Prix Blanche Selva and the Prix Ohana). He has been invited to hold recitals in Paris (CNSM, Salle Gaveau, France Musique, Salle Cortot, Théâtre du Châtelet), in Nice (Fondation Sophia Antipolis), in Maastricht, in Colmar for the Festival Michelangeli 2000, in Orléans and in Montpellier for recitals, chamber concerts and concerts with orchestra (Orchestre d’Orléans, Orchestre Philharmonique de Montpellier for Mozart’s Concerto K. 488 with A. Jordan and Beethoven’s 2nd Concerto with F. Layer, Orchestre du Banquet for Ligeti’s Piano Concerto), in Erfurt for Schumann’s Piano Concerto.In 1999 he got a prize in Busoni Competition in Bolzano. Ke is currently playing the complete Beethoven’s Sonatas for the Viotti Concert Society in Vercelli.

In collaboration with the pianist Letizia Michielon he performed the complete Ligeti’s Etudes at the Festival Aujourd’hui Musiques 2007 in Perpignan, at the Mozart Hall in Bratislava, at the Conservatories of Alessandria and Venezia, at the Festival Compositori a confronto in Reggio Emilia, Festival 5 Giornate in Milan, and at the Music Universities of Graz, Montreal (McGill), Warsaw (Chopin Academy), Vienna MDW University, NY University. They also proposed together other modern and contemporary programs, for the Viotti Society in Vercelli (2008), at the Schoenberg Center in Vienna (2009) at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice (2009), at the BKA Theater in Berlin (2010).

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, with excellent critics too. For an Euterp – Radio France Montpellier production he recorded Scarlatti’s Fugues and 9 Sonatas, distributed by Euterp/Accord (Universal).
In collaboration with the pianist Letizia Michielon he’s recording the complete Etudes of Ligeti and Chopin.
As composer, in 1996 he won the First Prize of the Buenos Aires Ginastera Competition with the symphonic work Katoptroeidès; In 1999 he won, with unanimous vote of the Jury and the special mention of the public, the Prize of the Competition Journées de la jeune musique de Marseille. The prize‑winning piece, La Sérénade aux tristes sourires for 11 instruments, was performed by the Ensemble Télémaque. His piano works and his compositions for other instruments have been performed by himself and other instrumentalists or groups in Vercelli, Alessandria (Conservatorio Vivaldi), Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice (Teatro La Fenice), Paris (Salle Gaveau), Orléans, Montpellier, Nice, Colmar, Berlin (Philharmonie, BKA), Graz, Vienna (MDW), Warsaw, Bratislava, Montreal, Buenos Aires (Teatro Colòn), New York (NY University and Washington Square Concert Series, see reviews)

His extremely wide piano repertoire ranges from Bach to the contemporary authors, and includes his own compositions. Beethoven’s and Mozart’s complete Sonatas, as well as the most important Schumann’s polyptychs, are permanently present. Besides solo piano works and Piano Concertos, it contains also chamber works and Lieder. Click on Details (on the left) to view the complete repertoire.