Alessio Pianelli - Biography

Alessio Pianelli received support from BBT between 2018 and 2023. For an up-to-date biography please visit www.mamusic.it

Alessio Pianelli, with his exceptional talent, belongs to the best italian cellists of the new generation. With his phenomenal technique, fantasy, musical intelligence and full mastery of the stage and of his own art, he is able to bring a new fascinating emotion to his listeners.

Thomas Demenga

Awarded a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship in 2018, Sicilian cellist and composer Alessio Pianelli brings to the stage the distinctive characteristics of his homeland, where one can still live and breathe the diverse cultures of Sicily, a unique region that was dominated throughout the centuries by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Germanics, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spanish. Curiosity, research and a love for traveling, arts and culture, all came easily and befitting his character, naturally broadening his emotional personality and crystalline talent.

Prizewinner of several international competitions, Alessio has regularly performed as a soloist with symphony and chamber orchestras such as Sinfonieorchester Basel, Kazakh State Orchestra, Philarmonie Baden-Baden and Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI di Torino.  He has been invited to international festivals such as Marlboro Festival, Piatigorsky Festival, Davos Festival, and played such prominent halls in Europe, Asia and North America as Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Hall, Rome’s Auditorium Parco della Musica, Venice’s Teatro La Fenice, Tokyo’s Hajuko Hall and Tonhalle Zurich.

Since 2014 Alessio has released several albums issued on the Almendra Music, Claves, Concerto, Nami Records labels. Some of his compositions are published by Casa Musicale Sonzogno and Mueller&Schade.

Alessio plays a 1921 Evasio Emilio Guerra cello.

I still vividly remember the day I received the wonderful news about my BBT Fellowship. In that moment I felt several emotions: happiness, satisfaction and gratitude. Consistent economic support for the advancement of one’s own career is a dream for any artist. Pretty soon my life (and my vision of it) changed; not only could I realise projects that would otherwise be inconceivable, but BBT also helped my development both artistically and as a person. I would define BBT as a family because it gave me the chance to meet people who are always ready to help, listen, and advise. I will be grateful to them forever. Humanity, the support of beauty, and good values are the foundation of this organisation and that is why I wish every artist could have the gift of a family like this!

Photographs by Baldo Messina / Francesca Cicala / Antonio Cusimano