Roberto Prosseda
"Thanks to his ability to chisel the sound with his notable touch, Prosseda creates magic. This is pianistic art at the highest level, which is evident first of all in the infinite range of colours and nuances he obtains from the piano, particularly on the borders of silence, perfect for this type of music." Leipziger Volkszeitung, August 2010 (review of Prosseda’s Schumann CD
Roberto Prosseda’s sensational discovery of new Mendelssohn works made headlines in Europe and lead to three Decca releases. His albums have won much acclaim in the press, including the CHOC from Le Monde de la Musique Classique, the Diapason d’Or and Chamber Music CD of the Month in the UK’s Classic FM magazine.
Critics and public alike have come to recognise Prosseda’s interpretations as communicating a deep emotion and introspection, capable of moving the listener, thanks also to a particular use of rubato and a great variety of timbres, particularly in Prosseda’s use of pianissimo. In 2010, Deutsche Grammophon selected twelve recordings by Prosseda to add to the box set, “Classic Gold”, released in May 2010.
Roberto Prosseda has performed regularly with some of the world’s most important orchestras, such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Moscow State Philharmonic, Bruxelles Philharmonic, Calgary Philharmonic and the mighty Leipzig Gewandhaus. With the Gewandhaus, conducted by Riccardo Chailly, he recorded the 3rd Piano Concerto in E minor by Mendelssohn, relased on the Decca International label in September 2009. In Italy he performs regularly for the prestigious Serate Musicali di Milano and the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, and is frequently invited to the major concert series, including La Scala Milan, l’Unione Musicale in Turin, l’Accademia Filarmonica Romana in Rome and the Teatro la Fenice in Venice.
Other than Mendelssohn, whose music he is considered to be the best pianistic interpreter of today, Prosseda’s interpretations of Mozart, Schubert, Schumann and Chopin have been particularly praised, and these composers have infact featured in Prosseda’s recent recordings. An active proponent of contemporary music, Prosseda performs the complete piano works of Petrassi, Dallapiccola and Aldo Clementi, and many works by Italian composers such as Berio, Castaldi, Dall’Ongaro, Fedele and Solbiati.
In September 2011, Prosseda gave his debut on the pedal piano, performing the Concerto for Pedal Piano by Gounod in the world premiere version for modern instrument. Concerts are planned in the next seasons on this instrument, rediscovering the original compositions by Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt and Charles Valentin Alkan. Several composers, including Ennio Morricone, have already written new pieces for piano-pédalier for Roberto Prosseda, and a recording of the Gounod will be made on the Hyperion label in autumn 2012.
