Carlo Grante

Carlo Grante is one of today's most active and popular recording pianists and his concert repertoire, which has also contributed to the appreciation of lesser-known works, is one of the largest among contemporary pianists. His discography currently numbers more than fifty CDs, ranging from Domenico Scarlatti (the complete recording of the sonatas is taking place in Vienna—a project of about 40 CDs under the patronage of Bösendorfer and Paul and Eva Badura-Skoda), Platti, Clementi, Liszt and Schumann, to twentieth century composers as Godowsky, Busoni and Sorabji. His recent record productions include works by Vlad (Opus Triplex) and Finnissy (Bachsche Nachdichtungen) dedicated to him and inspired by Bach and Busoni, the two concertos for piano and orchestra by Franz Schmidt with the Radio Orchestra of Leipzig (MDR Leipzig) conducted by Fabio Luisi, three concertos for piano and orchestra by Mozart with the Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome conducted by B. Sieberer, the Busoni Concerto, recorded live in Vienna with the Vienna Symphony under Fabio Luisi, the three sonatas by Schumann (recorded in the Sala Santa Cecilia in Rome's Parco della Musica), as well as works by Godowsky, Rachmaninoff, Flynn, Bloch and Liszt.

In his concert activity he has performed in major concert venues and prestigious halls: the Grosser Saal of the Konzerthaus and Goldener Saal of the Musikverein in Vienna, Wigmore Hall and Barbican Hall in London, at the Parco della Sala Santa Cecilia Music in Rome, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Dresden Semperoper, Opera, Stuttgart, in New York, Chicago, Milan, Moscow, Hong Kong, Singapore, Hanoi, Zagreb, Bucharest, Lima, Rio de Janeiro, the Vienna Festival, Istanbul, Husum, Newport, "Neuhaus Festival" in Saratov, Miami, Tallin, Ravello, MDR Musiksommer, etc., with major orchestras, such as Dresden Staatskapelle, Royal Philharmonic in London, Vienna Symphony, Orchestra of St. Cecilia, Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano, Orchestra of Radio-TV in Zagreb Radio Orchestra of Leipzig (MDR), Capella Istropolitana of Bratislava, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, etc.

At the Newport Festival in 1995 Carlo Grante performed the world premiere of the 53 Studies on the Etudes of Chopin by L. Godowsky. In 1996, on the occasion of two recitals at the Wigmore Hall in London, Musical Opinion reviewer wrote: "The discs of Grante had shown astonishing qualities... his live performances have then proved him to be the first rate pianist that his discs suggested." In 1997 he gave a series of 6 recitals in New York, and the New York Times wrote, "Carlo Grante's recital systematically demonstrated technical ability, but it was a prowess that went beyond muscle and speed. Here was not just attractive color but color with a purpose." In a recent article Harold Schonberg stated about Grante: "This is real, stylish virtuoso playing, nimble and confident, backed by a splendid piano tone. Fingerwork is impeccable. Rhythm is flexible. And the playing has colour and imagination."

Recent concerts in recital and with orchestra have been met with great success: "a small, quiet miracle" ([Mozart] Leipziger Volkszeitung, Leipzig), "Grante is a knight of the piano, without blemish and without fear..." ([Schmidt] Die Presse, Vienna).

Grante graduated in piano at the Conservatory S. Cecilia in Rome with Sergio Perticaroli, then he studied in the U.S. with Ivan Davis, at the University of Miami and with Rudolf Firkusny at the Juilliard School in New York; he then moved to London, where he studied intensively with Alice Kezeradze-Pogorelich.

CONCERTO REPERTOIRE

Bartok:
Concerto N° 2

Beethoven:
Concerto No. 1
Concerto No. 2
Concerto No. 3
Concerto No. 4
Concerto N° 5
Fantasia Op. 80

Brahms:
Concerto N° 1
Concerto N° 2
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Busoni :
Concerto op. 39 for piano, choir e orchestra​
Konzertstück​
Concerto for piano and strings​
Indian Fantasy

Falla: Noches en los jardinos d’Espana
​
Liszt:
Todtentanz
Concerto No. 1
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Margola:
Concerto for violin, piano and strings ​

Medtner:
Concerto N°2​

Mozart:
Concerto K. 271
“Jeunhomme" (Jenamy)
Concerto K. 365​
Concerto K. 414​
Concerto K. 449
Concerto K 450​
Concerto K. 466
Concerto K 467
Concerto K. 488​
Concerto K. 491​
Concerto K. 503​

Mundry:
Panorama ciego, pf e orch.​
​
Prokofiev:
Concerto N° 2
Concerto N° 3
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Franz Schmidt:
Concertante Variationen​
Concerto​