“Michele Sampaolesi zeigte sich als fantasievoller Pianist. In Marzocchis Werk entwickelte er durch unterschiedliche Pedaltechniken Klangschattierungen, die wie feine Nebelschleier vorbeizogen, formte darunter deutlich thematische Bewegungen. Im sich überkreuzenden Spiel der Hände entstanden Crescendi und Decrescendi, die zu einem zauberhaften Schwingen führten. Ausdruckskraft und virtuoses Spiel bot Michele Sampaolesi bei der Rhapsodie von Liszt, die er zupackend und konzentrierte musizierte. (from “Wolfsburger Nachrichten” – GERMANY)”
“… E’ un vero virtuoso che emerge nella espansione cantabile e nella varietà timbrica. Nei“Preludi op.23”di Rachmaninov, Sampaolesi si impone per l’avvincente retorica strumentale e il fervore esecutivo. Anche più impressionante la resa della celeberrima“Rapsodia Ungherese n.2”di Liszt, in cui il solista sfrutta tutte le possibilità di un discorso flessibile, abilmente espresso nel“rubato”e nel respiro strumentale, mantenendo però il senso della misura…si tratta di un elemento che emerge nel quadro del nuovo pianismo italiano… (from “Il Gazzettino” – ITALY)”
Born in Ancona in 1982, MICHELE SAMPAOLESI won the First Prize and Medal of the President of the Italian Republic at the XXI “PREMIO VENEZIA” – Teatro La Fenice in 2004. He was defined by Wolfsburger Nachrichten “fantasievoller Pianist” and by Il Gazzettino as “a real virtuoso”. He is invited to perform in the most prestigious venues and festivals such as “Mittelfest” in Cividale (UD), Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Amici della Musica di Mestre, Accademia Filarmonica di Verona, Amici della Musica di Padova, Amici della Musica – Società del Quartetto di Vicenza, Società Umanitaria in Milan, Fondazione “La Società dei Concerti” in Milan, Nuovo Auditorium dell’Orchestra Sinfonica “G.Verdi” in Milan, Teatro Grande in Brescia, Teatro Vittoria in Turin, Amici della Musica di Verona, Teatro del Casino in Sanremo, Teatro“Verdi” in Pisa, CIDIM, Ente Concerti in Pesaro, Accademia Navale in Livorno, “BolognaFestival”, Teatro “G.Rossini” in Pesaro, Palazzo Ducale in Camerino, Circolo degli Ufficiali in Naples, Amici del Teatro Massimo in Palermo, International Piano Festival “La Roque-d’Anthéron” (FRANCE), Wolfsburg Castle, Gasteig and Grosser Saal der Musikhochschule in Munich (GERMANY), Big Hall of the Conservatory in Innsbruck (AUSTRIA), Mozartinstituut in Antwerpen (BELGIUM), Caruth Auditorium and Van Katwijk Club in Dallas (Texas, U.S.A.). His performances have been broadcasted by TV (RAI Uno, Italy) and French and Italian radios (RadioFrance,RAI Radio3). He has appeared with leading orchestras such as Sanremo Symphony Orchestra, Pesaro Symphony Orchestra, “G.Rossini” Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of important conductors, among which Piero Bellugi, Alberto Zedda, Roberto Molinelli, Manlio Benzi, Paolo Ponziano Ciardi, Luca Ferrara. He recorded works by Chopin and Liszt for the Italian label “Sarx Records” and in 2003 he recorded live Cajkovskij’s Piano Concerto n.1 op.23 with Pesaro Symphony Orchestra. He was winner of many competitions including International Piano Competition “Città di Senigallia” (1997), International Competition “Società Umanitaria” in Milan (1999), Yamaha Musica Foundation of Europe in London (2002), “F.Alfano” International Piano Competition in Sanremo (2003). He nurtures a special artistic interest in chamber music and since 2009 he is the pianist of “Trio Dmitrij”.
Sampaolesi began studying piano at the age of seven. Then he studied with E.Peretti and G.Valentini at the Conservatory “G.Rossini” in Pesaro, graduating in 2003 with the highest honours and receiving in 2007 the Diploma Accademico di Secondo Livello with the highest honours. At the age of 14 he was admitted to the Accademia Pianistica“Incontri col Maestro” in Imola, where he worked with pianists such as L. Lortie, L. Berman, B. Petrushansky and he graduated in 2006. In 2004 he was rewarded the Meadows Artistic Scholarship Award and he studied with Joaquín Achúcarro at Southern Methodist University in Dallas (Texas, U.S.A.).He pursued his studies with Elissò Virsaladze at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, receiving in 2010 the “Klavier Konzertdiplom”. Alongside his studies, Sampaolesi gained valuable inspiration from his work with Aldo Ciccolini at the “MusicaRivaFestival” (Italy), Dmitri Bashkirov at the University Mozarteum in Salzburg (Austria), Joaquín Achúcarro at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena (Italy) and Andrea Lucchesini at the Accademia di Musica in Pinerolo (Italy). He is currently Professor of Piano in Italy at the Civica Suola di Musica “B.Gigli” in Recanati and at the “O.Svampa” Music Institute in Montecassiano (MC). Next engagements include the debut at the Parco della Musica in Rome and a series of recitals completely devoted to Franz Liszt.
