The piano was a constant presence throughout Berio’s life, from the charming early Petite Suite to the compelling drama of the Piano Sonata, one of his last works. Berio’s profound exploration of this instrument’s timbres and possibilities is further in evidence in the Webern-like concision of Cinque variazioni and the famously virtuoso Sequenza. The obsessiveness of Rounds and the deeply personal Six Encores complete a recording that marks the 20th anniversary of Berio’s death in 2023.

Luciano Berio is acknowledged as one of the greatest and most influential composers of the 20th century but his music for solo piano is under-represented in recordings, and pianist Matteo Bevilacqua has pointed out that the remarkable Piano Sonata ‘is now almost forgotten in concert halls’. David Arden’s recording on the New Albion label from 1996 would be the only competitor as a ‘complete recording’ but of course it lacks the Piano Sonata from 2001, so this new Grand Piano release has premiere status in this regard.

Berio’s music is technically demanding but always rewards the listener in its startling theatricality and imaginatively stimulating contrasts of intensity and atmosphere.

Italian concert pianist Matteo Bevilacqua currently holds the position of artist-in-residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, studying under the tutelage of renowned pianists Frank Braley and Avedis Kouyoumdjian. Bevilacqua has garnered international recognition, having recorded for esteemed labels such as Naxos Records and Grand Piano. He has performed in some of the most prestigious international venues, including the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, the Arsonic in Mons, the Schlosstheater of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Teatro Civico in La Spezia and Teatro Palladium in Rome. He has also appeared at various festivals, including Vaux Hall Summer, Castel dei Mondi, Mittelfest, Perosi and Legno Vivo, among many others.

Matteo Bevilacqua has given over a hundred recitals at renowned festivals and venues across Europe, and received more than 25 prizes in international piano competitions. His repertoire ranges from Baroque to contemporary music, and explores new programme combinations that break away from ‘traditional’ repertoire, with particular attention to 19th- and 20th-century Italian music. He appeared on a much-admired recent Naxos recording of Lorenzo Perosi’s Piano Quintets (8574375) in which ‘Matteo Bevilacqua and Roma Tre Orchestra Ensemble give the sense that they hold nothing back’ (MusicWeb International).

Matteo Bevilacqua is joined in the pieces for piano four hands, Canzonetta and Touch, by the award-winning Italian pianist Luca Trabucco, who appears here in his Naxos debut but has previously recorded for labels such as Phoenix Classic and Suonare Records.

Luca Trabucco has achieved significant recognition through winning numerous piano competitions. Some of his notable achievements include success at the 1993 Premio Venezia and the 1995 Premio ‘Città di Treviso’, and he was also one of the top prize winners at the prestigious 2005 New Orleans International Piano Competition. Trabucco has captivated audiences worldwide with his performances, and he has collaborated with esteemed organisations such as the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, the Lyceum Club in Florence and Kawai concerts at Bocconi University in Milan. While Trabucco’s repertoire encompasses various musical periods, he has dedicated himself to the works of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, for whom he is an international point of reference.