FrancescoPiemontesi

Press

• London Philharmonic Orchestra & Robin Ticciati

  Schumann Piano Concerto

  Mar 2025

  • Piemontesi is a lyricist at heart; his sensitivity was everywhere in evidence. His range of articulation is huge, his command of the piano’s tone complete (particularly sweet treble was especially notable)... Piemontesi’s achievement was to give the Robert Schumann’s music all the space it needed but without distending either phrase or movement structure... A fabulous performance.

    • Colin Clarke, Seen and Heard
    • 20 March 2025

• Dresden Music Festival

  Beethoven & Debussy

  May 2024

  • Piemontesi’s Beethoven has eloquence and maturity... Clarity was clearly an imperative for Piemontesi, whose finger strength is beyond any doubt. But he also brought moments of glorious fantasy; this was like hearing the work anew... Here was identifiably the same pianist with the same traits, but his soundworld modulated towards Debussy, adjusting to that composer’s sense of colour perfectly... One encore, but the audience could have easily taken a dozen... he is one of the finest young pianists and deserves to be fully recognised as such.

    • Colin Clarke, Seen and Heard International
    • 15 May 2024

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Thomas Søndergård

  Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2

  Dec 2022

  • ...the evening clearly belonged to pianist Francesco Piemontesi who made a most impressive CSO debut. As solo protagonist, the young Swiss pianist revealed himself a stylish and delightful keyboard presence. In addition to a stellar technique and clarity of articulation, Piemontesi brought a probing yet playful touch, adding a bit of emphasis here, a subtle slowing there, even a jazz-like top-spin at times... One felt as if experiencing something of what Beethoven’s keyboard style must have sounded like in the joy and quirky unpredictability of Pietmontesi’s playing.

    • Lawrence A. Johnson, Classical Review
    • 02 December 2022

• Ravel, Messiaen & Schoenberg

  CD

  Jun 2022

  • **** ...dazzling Ravel from a Swiss whizz... What really pulls the crazy trio together...is the opportunity for the classy Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi to be winningly propulsive, nimble and precise.

    • Geoff Brown, The Times
    • 29 June 2022

• Mozart Piano Concertos

  CD

  Aug 2020

  • ***** Francesco Piemontesi brings a sense of unforced inevitability to every phrase... I cannot think of better medicine than the new album of Mozart piano concertos from the Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi, an absolute master of the art that conceals art, playing the notes with such easy grace and limpid flow that he almost seems to be improvising.

    • Geoff Brown, The Times
    • 28 August 2020

• Bach, Debussy & Rachmaninov

  Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

  May 2019

  • ...Constantly there are patches of newness that are clearly rightness; the dimensions are filled out logically; and, though it may, with its irresistible blend of swashbuckling power and searching reflectiveness, have felt like the ultimate piano sonata before, it certainly did so in Piemontesi’s triumphant rendering.

    • Paul Driver, The Times
    • 12 May 2019

  • ***** Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi delivered an impressively varied programme to a receptive Queen Elizabeth Hall audience... Piemontesi is one of those rare performers who can combine phenomenal technical prowess with intelligent programme choices and emotional sensitivity... with Piemontesi demonstrating dazzling virtuosity and phenomenal control as Rachmaninov’s passionate expression reached its heady climax.

    • Nick Boston, Bachtrack
    • 03 May 2019

• Bach Nostalghia

  CD

  May 2019

  • ...Both are played, tantalisingly, with a keen sense of place and time – the Bach affectionately and glowingly, but with a modern stylistic sensitivity, the Busoni on an appropriately grander scale, yet with half an eye on its Bachian trajectory. Yet it is the transcriptions, including Busoni’s of the E flat Fugue BWV 552 and Wilhelm Kempff’s of the flute ‘Siciliano’ from BWV 1031, that inspire the finest playing of all, as Piemontesi projects a gently nostalgic soundworld with exquisite sensitivity.

    • Julian Haylock, BBC Music Magazine
    • 13 May 2021

• Scottish Chamber Orchestra & Andrew Manze

  Mozart Piano Concerto No. 19

  Mar 2019

  • ...his Mozart Piano Concerto No. 19 was simply spellbinding: fresh and direct in a supple opening movement; exquisitely blended and balanced in its singing slow movement.

    • David Kettle, The Scotsman
    • 05 March 2019