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The Italian harpsichordist and pianist, Antonio Piricone, studied intitially in Catania, and has mastered his musical education attending the piano and chamber music stages of Bruno Canino, Chantal de Buchy, Andrzej Jasinsky, and most recently with Andreas Staier on historical keyboard instruments.
Antonio Piricone is one of the most exciting Italian musician of the younger generation whose personal approach, both as a pianist and an exponent on historical keyboard instruments, is commanding increasing attention internationally. His interpretative skills, versatility, keen sense of style, technical agility and integrity to the score distinguish him both as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. His achievements has lead him to performing through Europe and Japan with leading orchestras and ensembles, singers, soloists and conductors. Hes has appeared at major venues and in renowned music festivals and concert series to the great acclaim of critics and audiences alike. These include Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Teatro Alighieri in Ravenna, Prague Spring International Music Festival, Dvořak Hall in Prague, Prinzregentetheater in Munich, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, De Vereeniging Concertgebouw Nijmegen & Vredenburg Muziek Centrum Utrecht in Holland, Offerta Musicale Ensemble, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Aargau Symphony Orchestra, Czech Chamber Philharmonic, to name but a few.
As a pianist and accomplished harpsichordist Antonio Piricone has recorded for the Italian and Czech Radio & Television, and his recordings have been broadcast by Bavarian Radio, Radio France, Italian RadioTre Suite, BBC Radio3, Radio Vaticana and Britains' Classic FM. His growing list of successful recordings includes most recently J.S. Bach's complete English Suites for the Classico Records label (Denmark), 1998-1999; the world premiere recordings of the St. Luke Passion (BWV 246) by Bach/Orff/Jirásek and the Mass in C K.anh. 1.20 attributed to Mozart; the first complete recording on the modern piano of Georg Anton Benda's "6 Sonate per il Cembalo solo" (Classico Recorings, 2003), which since its release and together with the English Suites, has attracted wide interest and has won international praise; a live recording of Malcolm Arnold's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra together with Martin Roscoe and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra which marked his British debut in October 2001. During the same year, for the 80th birthday celebrations of the same composer, Antonio Piricone presented programmes completely dedicated to his piano and chamber music in 4 countries in Europe (Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, UK).
During the season 2002/03 Antonio Piricone was involved in the European Premiere of Howard Hanson's Concerto for Piano, the Japanese debut with the Asian Premiere of Edward Gregson's Concerto for Piano and Wind together with Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra at the Metropolitan Art Space in Tokyo, the performances of J.S. Bach's multiple harpsichord Concertos in Holland with Ton Koopman and the world premiere of Steve Reich's Piano Phase on two harpsichord, with the composer. The past season included, G.A. Benda's and Arthur Honegger's Piano Concertos with the Czech Chamber Philharmonic, a Japanese tour in spring 2005 as a recitalist, chamber musician and as a soloist together with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dutch Premiere of Gregson's Concerto for Piano and Wind (premiered as well in Germany and Switzerland in 2001) at the Kerkrade World Music Contest. Next engagements, among a number or recitals and chamber music projects at home and in Europe, will include the American debut in New York with the performance of one of the first opera ever written, Rappresentatione di Anima et di Corpo by E. de' Cavalieri together with Claudine Ansermet and Alessandro Carmignani, the Berkeley Festival - California, and the French debut at the most prestigious Festival International de Piano de La Roque d'Antheron en Provence, in the same season with the most famous world artists .
Within the framework of his busy schedule, Antonio Piricone works consistently to create stimulating and varied programmes, with the aim of widening audience appreciation of neglected music. He is often involved in first performances of New Music and seeks to present a fresh approach to the classics. The aesthetics of historical performances practice are also a constant source of inspiration to Antonio Piricone who is, however, very much a musician with a wide interest in music of all periods, maintaining a strong commitment to contemporary musical language. He works currently in Holland, where he focuses on his research on the development and evolution of historical keyboard instruments and performance practice with Jacques Ogg, Patrick Ayrton, Stanley Hoogland and Bart van Oort at the Royal Conservatory on The Hague (Holland), and with Andreas Staier in Cologne (Germany). |
