A versatile musician and music producer. Alessandro's preference for board instruments was clear when as a child he began to play as a self-taught pianist. He also 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: nist of immense talent and will surely make his mark on the musical profession [...].

After a long period without playing, absorbed by the music production activity (he is the founder of the recording label OnClassical), Alessandro restarted playing and began recording himself at both the piano and the harpsichord, 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).

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). Few years later, he re-recorded all the 3 CD's during some nights on the deepest silence; in this occasion he also performed his transcription of the Messe des pauvres and some other unedited pieces by Satie (Allegro with a cancelled bar, two unfinished Quartets).

Always passionate about ragtime, in 2018 Alessandro released a 2 Album-set including 33 of Scott Joplin's pieces ("Rags & Waltzes"): this album has been listened by over 2 Millions of fans. Few months later he re-recorded some rags and all the missing pieces (total of 55): the result will be soon printed and distributed in limited numbered copies.

In 2020, during the Covid season, he recorded the Domenico Paradies [Domenico Paradisi]'s 12 Keyboard Sonatas (BC95867) with his harpischord, a copy of Johannes Ruckers (1638). This recording was nominated at the Shallplatten Preis and also largely acclaimed by critics worldwide. A stunning review by Gil French says: "Listening to Simonetto is like listening to Martha Argerich: along with the utter command of discipline and technique, I hear his brain and emotions being about two measures ahead of the notes. No wonder he exudes spontaneity." (Fanfare, 2021).

In recent times, Alessandro recorded other two discs of Eric Satie's Piano Music (the playlist) including over 100 pieces. These will be released in 2022 as only-digital for his 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)