Birth

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1983 in Locarno, Switzerland

 

Francesco Piemontesi is a Swiss classical pianist who has gained international recognition for his virtuosic performances and insightful interpretations of classical repertoire. Born on January 17, 1983, in Locarno, Switzerland, Piemontesi began playing the piano at the age of four and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Piemontesi's musical education began at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, where he studied with Arie Vardi. He later continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hanover, Germany, with Karl-Heinz Kämmerling. Piemontesi also received guidance from Alfred Brendel, Murray Perahia, and Cécile Ousset, among others. Piemontesi's career took off in 2007 when he won the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world. This victory brought him to the attention of the international music community and led to numerous engagements with major orchestras and conductors. Since then, Piemontesi has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. He has collaborated with conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Sir Simon Rattle. Piemontesi is also a sought-after recitalist and chamber musician. He has performed at major venues and festivals around the world, including the Wigmore Hall in London, the Berliner Philharmonie, the Salzburg Festival, and the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York. Piemontesi's repertoire is wide-ranging and includes works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, Debussy, and Ravel, among others. He is particularly known for his interpretations of Mozart's piano music, which he has recorded extensively for the Naïve label. In addition to his performing career, Piemontesi is also a dedicated teacher. He has taught at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich and the Accademia di Musica di Pinerolo in Italy. He has also given masterclasses at institutions such as the Juilliard School in New York and the Royal Academy of Music in London. Piemontesi has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. In addition to his victory at the Queen Elisabeth Competition, he has been awarded the Prix Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, the Credit Suisse Young Artist Award, and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award. He was also named a BBC New Generation Artist in 2009. Despite his many accomplishments, Piemontesi remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He has said that his goal as a musician is to "serve the music" and to communicate its beauty and meaning to audiences around the world. With his exceptional talent and deep musical insight, he is sure to continue to do just that for many years to come.

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