Italian composer Alessandro Martire is known for performing in unusual settings. His Toronto concert on November 18, though, will be in the elegant but conventional confines of the Isabel Bader Theatre.
He’ll be playing a selection of his own neoclassical compositions.
Alessandro Martire and the Wave Piano
After studies in piano and composition at the Music Academy in Genoa, Alessandro went on to Berklee College. Adding study in political science, he eventually graduated with a degree in International and Political Science at the University of Milan.
Alessandro began to record and release his original music in 2015, building a following online as well as in concert. His 2021 single Brethame has garnered more than 860K streams on Spotify. His work combines traditional and contemporary classical idioms, and Alessandro avoids narrowly defining his style.
Along with his own work as composer and performer, the native of the Lake Como region of Italy founded the LEJ Festival. The first Floating Moving Concert took place in August 2019, and featured Alessandro Martire on piano and violinist Anastasiya Petryshak on violin. They performed on a platform that floated on Lake Como while travelling from Piazza Risorgimento, along the Riva di Cernobbio to Villa Erba, a grandiose villa built in the 19th century by Luigi Erba. The experience connects the music with the landscape and culture of the region.
The platform he performed on was constructed to mirror the water and sky, and the piano itself is a creation that has become his signature instrument. The Wave piano was designed by architect Claudio Bargna, and built by companies in the Lake Como region using sustainable materials and an innovative aesthetic.
Q&A
LvT: What led you to choose the piano at such an early age?
AM: I began my musical journey at the age of 7, discovering my deep affection for the piano and the emotions it evokes. By 15, I ventured into composition on the piano, expanding my repertoire over time. Today, I create not only for solo piano but also for orchestral arrangements, finding that the combination of piano and orchestra is ideal for crafting captivating soundtracks.
LvT: How did you come up with the concept of the LEJ Festival — i.e. the marriage of music and landscape?
AM: When conceiving ‘Waves’ and the ‘Floating Concert,’ part of the Lake Endless Joy Festival, my aspiration was to achieve a seamless union of music and nature. The audience becomes intertwined with the act of listening, mirroring the immersive experience of nature. My aim is to transform nature into the concert’s grand stage. Additionally, the venues I select are consistently unique, private, and accessible solely by foot or e-bike, ensuring the utmost preservation of the surrounding environment
LvT: What inspires you as a composer?
AM: Nature is my musical inspiration, and sharing it with the audience completes my artistic journey. Playing on mountain peaks, frozen lakes, and desert landscapes is where my heart finds its muse. The connection with nature is an indescribable emotion that fuels my creativity
LvT: What made you design the Waves piano?
AM: I’ve always dreamt of owning a ‘wavy’ piano, a reflection of the gentle ripples on the surface of Lake Como, my cherished home and natural habitat. Collaborating with nearly 25 skilled artisans from Cantù, a town renowned for its furniture craftsmanship, I sought a specialized district close to my roots in the Como province. In Cantù, I found the perfect place. ‘Waves’ is an artistic piano, meticulously designed for me, embodying my vision to bring music to iconic locations and unite it with the surrounding natural beauty.
LvT: Are there composers in the traditional classical repertoire who inspire you?
AM: I admire a wide range of classical composers, as well as songwriters from the pop, alternative music, and electronic music genres. I consistently draw inspiration from film composers like Ennio Morricone, who has greatly influenced my artistic career
LvT: What can audiences expect for your Toronto concert?
AM: I first visited Canada when I was 17, travelling to Windsor, ON, where I have many cousins and friends. It was also the location of my first performance, an experience I hold dear. I fondly remember the immense passion and love of the people there, and I hope to evoke the same emotions in Toronto. We aim to forge an intimate connection with the audience through my music. I take great pleasure in surprising my audience, offering not only my music but unforgettable experiences that will be etched in their hearts forever.
- Tickets and more information about the November 18 concert of Contemporary Echoes, the title of his new release, [HERE].
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