Alessandro Simonetto

Alessandro Simonetto is a versatile musician and music producer.

His preference for board instruments was clear when as a child he began to play as a self-taught pianist.

Alessandro started composing at a very early age. At 14 y.o. he wrote a cycle of Mazurkas inspired by Chopin. He deepened aspects of jazz composition and silent-film music, and became a close friend with Eric James, the associate composer of Sir Charles Chaplin, until his death. In 2000, a few minutes before his performance, James put a paper on the grand piano, and in front of the audience wrote: Alessandro is a pianist of immense talent and will surely make his mark on the musical profession [...].

After a long period without playing, absorbed by the activity of being a producer, and making over 250 recordings for various musicians and labels, Alessandro began recording himself at both the piano and harpsichord, and obtaining such acclaim from the critics as: The Suittes voor Clavicembel (Suites Op. 1) [BC94187] was nominated Recording of the Month by Music-Web International (Nearly eighty minutes of enormously appealing, high-octane invention superbly rendered by Alessandro Simonetto.). Furthermore his world première of Leroy Shield: Laurel & Hardy's Original Piano Music [AE16024], performed at the piano, was awarded (5 stars) both on classical and jazz/pop magazines worldwide (Mojo, Piano International, Teatro, The L&H Magazine, Intra-Tent Journal, Furore, Pözenkrant) and widespread @ radios worldwide (BBC, CBC/ICI Musique, RAI Radio 3, NPO, BR Klassik, IPR, Ouverture).
To end Alessandro's version of Erik Satie: Early & Esoteric Works (1887-1897) [AE16019], also including the world première sketch Chanson Hungroise, was widely reviewed (4 Etoiles Classica on others).
Passionate about ragtime, in 2017-18 Alessandro recorded the Complete Piano Works by Scott Joplin [two albums published in the early 2018 / OC18022d].

He is the founder of the digital label OnClassical.

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Cover photo: © Enrica Pontin - Self-portrait [above]: © Alessandro Simonetto

Simonetto is a super talented pianist with a deep love for the silent films. He had a mentor in Eric James, Music Associate of Charlie Chaplin. —Nick Luscombe, (BBC Music, 06/2018)

Simonetto's performance is lively and imaginative. [...] Simonetto's sound, especially next to the compelling flair of his performance. —Bradley Lehman, (American Record Guide, 08/2018)

Simonetto's performances carry astonishing power at times; at others, there is pure tomfoolery afoot. —Colin Clarke, *****/5 (International Piano, 06/2017)

Captivating and completely idiomatic performances. They are recorded, moreover, in very fine sound." —Rob Maynard, (Music-web International, 02/2017)

Simonetto fait sentir la profondeur habitée de ces pages énigmatiques, qui vaut bien les versions de référence [...] tout en y ajoutant une singulière quiétude, méditative et intense. —Romaric Gergorin, ****/4 (Pianiste/Classica, 06-07/2017)

Simonetto's interpretation is quite pleasant. The recording quality is excellent, with beautiful clear tone and deep and natural left hand notes. The sound is considerably richer and more natural than the CDs used as a comparison. —Roger McCuaig, (TNT Audio, 06/2017)