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The Italian pianist, Carlo Grante, graduated in Piano performance with Sergio Perticaroli at the Conservatoire of Rome, where he studied Composition with Claudio Perugini. He continued his studies in the USA with Ivan Davis, graduating at the University of Miami, and with Rudolf Firkusny at the Juilliard School of New York; later he moved to London, specialising with Alice Kezeradze-Pogorelich.
Carlo Grante is one of the most active and accomplished recording artists of his generation. His concert activity features a wide array of repertoire that includes also many works of contemporary composers. He is attentive not only to the great repertoire, but also to works of less-known authors (as for instance Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, English 20th-century musician of Persian origins), to which he dedicates a rigorous research. He performed the complete Leopold Godowsky’s piano works, and is also considered among Ferruccio Busoni's most authoritative interpreters. Many contemporary composers have written for him, such as Roman Vlad, Michael Finnissy, Troncon, and Flynn.
Carlo Grante has held concerts in important Italian and foreign musical centres, such as: Rome (Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Accademia Filarmonica), Milan (Società dei Concerti, Pomeriggi Musicali), London, Vienna, Leipzig, Munich, New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, Zagabria, Festival of Husum, Festival of Newport, Festival of Vienna, Festival of Istanbul, Lima, Rio de Janeiro, Festival di Ravello, Musical Autumn Como, etc. He played as a soloist with many major Italian and foreign orchestras: from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London to the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, from the Chamber Orchestra of Accademia di Santa Cecilia to the Miami Chamber Symphony Orchestra.
In 1995 Carlo Grante performed at the Newport Festival the world-wide premiere of 53 Studies on the Etudes of Frédéric Chopin by L. Godowsky. In March 2006 he performed F. Busoni’s monumental Piano Concerto with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Chorus under Fabio Luisi. In 1996, on the occasion of two recitals at the Wigmore Hall in London, the reviewer of Musical Opinion wrote: “the discs of Grante had shown sbalorditive qualities… as a result of his live executions, have then demonstrated him being the pianist of prime order that his discs suggested”. In 1997 he gave a series of 6 recitals in New York, and the New York Times wrote, "His exploits go beyond velocity and ability of performance". In a recent article Harold Schonberg stated about Grante: "True pianism of a first-rate pianist, sustained by a splendid sonority".
Carlo Grante's discography includes more than thirty titles, including works by Platti, Clementi, Franz Liszt, Ferruccio Busoni (including works for piano and orchestra), F. Chopin and Prokofiev. He has been recording the complete solo piano works of Leopold Godowsky for Music & Arts (including the 53 Studies on the Etudes of F. Chopin and transcriptions of Schubert and J.S. Bach). Still in course are integral sonatas of Scarlatti (of which the first 7 CD have already appeared) |
