Alessandro Taverna
Biography
Born in Venice, Italian pianist Alessandro Taverna began his piano studies at the Music Academy of Santa Cecilia in Portogruaro with Laura Candiago Ferrari, graduating cum laude in 2001. He continued at the Portogruaro Music School for Advanced Studies with Piero Rattalino where he obtained his Final Diploma. At the International Piano Academy in Imola, he received his Master Diploma in November 2008, after studying with Franco Scala and Leonid Margarius. In January 2009, Alessandro enrolled at the 'Santa Cecilia' National Music Academy in Rome, where he continues his studies with Sergio Perticaroli.
He has won numerous awards in national and international competitions. In 2009 he was awarded Second Prize in the London International Piano Competition and First Prize at the Minnesota International Piano e-Competition, playing on Yamaha pianos. Alessandro was also awarded the Bronze Medal at the prestigious Leeds International Pianoforte Competition where he played with the Hallé Orchestra under Sir Mark Elder.
Michael Church, reviewing Mr Taverna's performances in London for The Independent said: 'Alessandro Taverna never put a finger wrong and his every note was weighed with the utmost finesse. Those who only heard his magisterial account of Chopin's First Piano Concerto won't have twigged what a remarkable musician he is. Taverna sounds to me like the natural successor to his great compatriot Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and there's not much higher praise than that.' Tim Ashley, reviewing the Leeds Competition for The Guardian said: 'Like many in the audience I would have liked to see the first prize go to bronze medallist Alessandro Taverna, who played Chopin's E minor Concerto with forthright, articulate beauty. He commanded the platform as if it were his by right, and looked to be thoroughly enjoying himself. Remember his name, I suspect we shall be hearing much more of him in the future.'
Alessandro has performed throughout Italy, Europe and America, including the 69th Maggio Musicale in Florence and Berlin's prestigious Konzerthaus, and participated in the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festivals of 2007 and 2008. In September 2008 he toured the major cities of South Africa. Last December he gave his debut in Chicago at Preston Braedley Hall for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts. He played also for the prestigious International Keyboard Festival at Mannes College in New York city.
He was chosen as an artist of the prestigious Keyboard Trust, for which he performed in London, New York, Hamburg and opened the 2009-2010 season of The Châteauville Foundation in Castleton (Virginia).
He has played concertos with the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, the Salem Chamber Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra Sinfonica della Valle d'Aosta and the Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico and has recorded for Radio Classica in Italy, for the Slovenian National Radio Television and for Classic FM Radio in South Africa. Among the future engagements, there will be the appearances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
