“I developed my career as piano soloist playing in Europe, America and Asia; I had the pleasure to perform in venues like Shanghai Symphony Hall, St. Martin in the Fields, Auditorium Parco della Musica, Sala Verdi and many more. I have recorded for several TV channels, and one of my recordings was among the winners of the Global Musical Awards. Last October 2020 I have been awarded with the Cartagine International Prize, Music Section.
Among the professors who most influenced me, my strongest memory is Sergio Fiorentino: his videos and recordings speak for him. One of the greatest pianists ever, he has been not just the best example as a musician, but as a human being first… how to behave, care for others, help them when possible, recognize people’s talent without any envy, be curious about all fields of knowledge and cultivate many interest, not just music. Last but not least, to be aware that being in the flow is better that make things perfect.
I have been lucky enough to enjoy, later, Chamber Music with Pier Narciso Masi: another great musician and great man, and he is also one of my best memories.
Nobody holds the truth: whoever says so is lying, or they did not take enough time to think, it’s a matter of knowledge and honesty. Being a musician is very close to scientific research: every morning you start from the beginning, try some experiments on yourself with the noble purpose to learn music better, even if you have an outstanding, long career behind your back, aware that tomorrow it will be the same research but (hopefully) with different results. What you learn over the years is the ability to see through music, your eyes go over the score and they can see many things and you know how to make them real on the piano: this is what I teach students. This last detail is crucial to me, when I was a student, many times
I would have loved to have a teacher telling me how to make it real, how to turn my intentions into real sound, by which gesture, which sensation, which thoughts? It was really hard to find the people who could teach me that. My biggest goal is to be that person for my students.
Among the achievements in my career, I have so many nice memories, but among the highlights I loved the debut at Shanghai Symphony Hall and, many years before, playing at the Parco della Musica and many other places. Some months ago I have been pleasantly surprised for being awarded with the Cartagine International Prize, Music section; surprised because among the past winners there are names so much greater than mine: Kofi Annan, Ennio Morricone… I cannot hope to go that far in my life! But what makes me happy is to see the two fields I like most to work with joined together in that prize: music and personal growth: I strongly believe they should go hand in hand, always. There is no improvement in your music if you don’t work on yourself, constantly.
I don’t listen to music very often, ‘cause I am doing it the whole day, from myself and from students, but when I do it I love to listen to everyone, especially if I don’t know them already but, among the greatest, I am always so curious to see what Martha Argerich does, mostly in orchestra concerts, because very often her ideas are technically and musically so inspiring. And I like very much Beatrice Rana!
If I would have to choose a humanitarian project to sustain, no doubt, I would pick. something regarding women’s education; there are many places in the world where girls are still excluded from a proper education, and poverty is not merely the lack of money, poverty is being isolated from the persons and chances that can help you get where you want. That is is the real problem and we should care more about it.”