The 20-year-old won Premio Venezia 2019 and gives concerts all over the world. Tomorrow night at the Municipal Theatre in Piacenza.
Considered among the best emerging talents of the piano scene, winner of the prestigious Premio Venezia 2019, and recently also of the XXIV Concurs Internacional de Piano Ricard Viñes, Cecino, at only twenty, has already performed in the most prestigious theatres and concert halls in Italy, as well as in Europe (in Vienna, Wolfsburg, Hamburg) and the United States. He has also performed as a soloist with the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Sichuan Philharmonic, Bacau Philharmonic and others.
The Musical Season of the Municipal Theatre continues tomorrow at 20.30 with the talented pianist Elia Cecino, in a concert co-produced with Fondazione Valtidone Musica. In 2019 the prestigious “Premio Bengalli”, as part of the International Music Competitions of Valtidone artistically directed by the musician Livio Bollani, was not awarded, so the choice fell on a real pianistic talent, who is currently a pupil of the Accademia del Ridotto in Stradella, in the class of Andrzej Jasinski.
«In my recital tomorrow at the Municipal – explains the pianist – I chose three pieces that belong to me, I would call them “identitarians”: the Sonata in G major, op. 31 n. 1 by Ludwig van Beethoven, very brilliant, Sonata no. 3 in F sharp minor, op. 23 by Aleksandr Skrjabin, the contemporaries Klavierstücke by Livio Bollani and to conclude the Sonata n. 7 in B flat major, op. 83 by Sergej Prokofiev, complex and exciting».
⌈ Livio Bollani’s two piano Etudes: how do you relate to contemporary music? ⌋
«Although my piano training, first with the teacher Maddalena De Facci and then with other great masters, is mainly aimed at the past and great classics, facing a contemporary repertoire is a challenge. In Europe, among other things, it is more frequent than in Italy and I am happy to have this opportunity».
⌈ You are 20 years old, but you are already engaged in a first level concert career. How important are competitions for a young pianist? ⌋
«I would say a lot because they are a catwalk where to be heard, as well as confronting others. And then, it is possible to meet in the jury great masters, from which happen to receive good advice. Standing out at the Ferruccio Busoni Competition was an important occasion, as was my victory at Premio Venezia 2019».
⌈ We want your youthful point of view: streaming performances Vs live performances. Who wins? ⌋
«Surely the performances with the audience win, I have already had the opportunity to make many and there is no better form for a concert. However, I happened to prepare streaming concerts and, with the use of a highly professional technology, the preparation and the performance were still high level. Streaming was important during the lockdown period, because it allowed us to continue to prepare, to work».
⌈ One of the aspects that certainly concern young musicians, at this time of recovery, is the need to travel, to propose to other countries. ⌋
«It’s true. I happened to perform in Spain, even during the lockdown, where I held many concerts. And then in Germany, for a long time. It is important not only to propose, but to go and specialize in some schools with great masters and also to compare with other musicians».
⌈ Without taking anything away from the Italian School, in recent years the German School represents the highest point of reference, at least as regards some instruments. A “legend” or, in your experience, is it really so? ⌋
«I would say that the most obvious aspect is the attention and investment that are put in the education and musical training of young people. I am not just referring to the musicians but to the audience. In Italy we are beginning to do so now, but we must continue in an increasingly consistent way».
Eleonora Bagarotti
Libertà di Piacenza
October 30, 2021
