Francesco Libetta


Francesco Libetta is an Italian pianist, composer and conductor.

Biography

Born in Galatone, Southern Italy, Francesco Libetta studied music in Italy and in France. He moved to Lecce, where he has taught Chamber Music at the "T. Schipa" Conservatory.
Described as a "poet-aristocrat of the keyboard with the profile and the carriage of a Renaissance prince", he first came to the attention of piano cognoscenti after his live performance of 53 Studies by Godowsky based on the 27 Studies by Chopin. Performances included: 1990 in Galatina; then 1994/95 in Milan; Naples, Florence; 2006 in Milan; 2010 one day in Brasília. Libetta's repertoire now encompasses a very wide range, including all of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas, several Mozart and Beethoven concertos, the complete Handel and Chopin works, as well as major works by Schubert, Schumann, Debussy, and Ravel.
He is active as a conductor. He is also a composer. His works include three piano concertos, symphonic pieces, electronic music, and ballet and movie scores. His writings include historical and aesthetic essays.
In 2005 he had a short role in Franco Battiato's movie Musikanten, on Beethoven's life.
In 2009, his first opera was premiered. Ottocento was performed in Otranto and Rome.
John Ardoin declared that among the new generation of pianists, Francesco Libetta is "the most inspired and creative".
One of his DVDs, with the recording of a recital held at the Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron, created by Bruno Monsaingeon, was awarded the Diapason d'Or and the "CHOC" of Le Monde de la musique.
Critics have praised his qualities: "...elegance and charm,, with a hint, a touch of aristocratic frivolity that we did not think we would ever witness again." ; "... a breadth of knowledge that extends far beyond the world of music and the piano repertoire." ; "... such miraculous virtuosity and such a delicate feel for melody that one cannot help wondering whether any other artist of his generation - whether in Italy or elsewhere - can be compared to him.".
He was Artistic Director of the Miami Piano Festival in Lecce and of the Michelangeli Festival in Rabbi. He has published essays on history and aesthetics, including music by Renaissance composers, reconstructions of Madrigals, cultural life in the late eighteenth century, etc.

Discography

DVD

NIREO 013.
Tradizioni musicali a Nardò.
Libetta: Sonata per violino e pianoforte, LAD. A. Scarlatti: two Intonazioni. N. Fago: Toccata.
NIREO 040.
Da Bach a Battiato.
Bach, Battiato, Gesualdo, Lulli, Martini, Pasquini, Rameau, Rossi, Turini, Vento, Zipoli
NIREO 012.
Libetta: Musiche per Bene.
With: Maria Luisa Bene, ensemble and electronic.
MARSTON .
A Century of Romantic Chopin.
Chopin: Nocturne Op. 27 n. 2
NIREO 011.
Eriberto Scarlino: Composizioni per pianoforte e da camera.
Scarlino: Fiaba, Improvviso, Aria, Scherzo, Due Studi da concerto, Cantilena, Minuetto, Berceuse, Piccolo Valzer, Serenatina, Improvviso, Canzoncina nostalgica, Notturno
NIREO 010.
Francesco D'Avalos: Composizioni per pianoforte.
Vergangliche Bilder Albumblatter und Variationen Albumblatt - Variazione di una variazione - 13 Preludi - Notturno - Piccola Romanza - Foglio d’Album - Minuetto - Paysages marines - 2 Pezzi caratteristici - Valzer
NIREO 007.
Libetta live in Fort Lauderdale.
Mozart, ; Beethoven ; Chopin Liszt ; Schumann ; Cajkovskij-Liszt ; Alfano ; Trabaci ; Leo-Libetta ; Friedman-Gartner.
NIREO 006.
Czerny - Musiche per pianoforte a sei mani.
Czerny: Variazioni su Bellini Op. 295, Rondo Op. 227, Fantasia su Mozart Op. 741, Grand Pot-pourri Op. 84, Overture da Le Nozze di Figaro di Mozart, Sinfonia da Tancredi di Rossini.
With: Alessandro Mandurino, Luigi Nicolardi, Renato Rizzello, Scipione Sangiovanni, Vanessa Sotgiu.
NIREO 003/5.
Liszt: 12 Symphonic Poems for Two Pianos.
With : Matteo Cistemino, Lara Escelsior, Giuliano Graniti, Luigi Nicolardi, Valentina Parentera, Renato Rizzello, Scipione Sangiovanni, Vanessa Sotgiu.
NIREO.
001/2.
Pozzoli: Studi di media difficoltà, Studi a moto rapido, and Studi sulle note ribattute, Riflessi del mare.
VAI.
VAIA 1241.
Czerny: Studies Op. 740
VAI.
VAIA 1242.
Mussorgsky, Balakirev
VAI.
Libetta Plays Beethoven
AUDIO VAIA 1208.
Beethoven: Variazioni Diabelli, Variazioni Op. 34
Tactus - TC:841905.
Sgambati: Sinfonia n. 1, op. 16; Maestoso ; Die Ideale
Accademia Classics - AC 502.2.
Franz Liszt: The Complete piano Transcription.
VAI.
Piano duos.
AUDIO VAIA 1212.
Mozart, Libetta, Rimsky-Korsakov/Libetta ; Liszt ; Rachmaninov
VAI. AUDIO VAIA 1206.
Masters of the Keyboard Vol. 2.
.
Debussy, Strauss-Risler, Brahms-Cortot
VAI - VAIA 1196.
Respighi, Gesualdo, Godowsky, Ravel, Debussy, Wagner/Liszt, Gounod/Liszt, Saint-Saëns, etc.
MPF -.
Alkan, etc.
Danacord - DANACOCD 559.
Godard

Chandos - CHAN 9820.
Eisler - with E. Arciuli, D. Fasolis, RTSI Choir.

Agorà - AG 175.2.
Liszt
Agorà - AG 168.1.
Platti
Agorà 1999.
Canzoni di Cesare Andrea Bixio.
Con Ernesto Palacio
AIG - AIG 1097.
Chopin: Due Notturni Op.27, Scherzo Op. 31, Studi Op. 10 nn. 3,5,10,12, Studi Op. 25 nn. 2,8,9,12, Valzer Op. 34 n. 2, Impromptu Op. 66, Polacca Op. 53
Eventyr.
Libetta, Monpou, Wagner
Agorà - AG 115.1.
Liszt: Trascrizioni da opere italiane e francesi.
Rigoletto, La muta di Portici, Guglielmo Tell, Roberto il diavolo, Sonnambula, Faust
Eventyr - LC 01.
Schubert, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Mozart, Hummel, Raff, etc.
Promusica Norway - PCC 9031.
Ligeti
Promusica Norway - PCC 9030.
Sinding Cleve

Albums (LPs)

ETERFON RR 141
Putignano

Works

Stage

; Piano solo
; Other