Alessandro Benazzo is constantly pushed to reposition music in the current artistic context.
Born in Lugano (CH), he graduated in Trombone at the "Arrigo Boito" Conservatory of Music in Parma and later at the "Lorenzo Perosi" International Academy of Music in Biella.
He studied with Christian Lindberg and Michel Becquet.
He continued his studies in Conducting in the Contemporary Repertoire and Gregorian Chant at the University School of the Conservatory of Italian Switzerland.
He continued with his Gregorian Chant studies and Gregorian Choir Conducting in Lugano, Arco di Trento, Assisi and Cremona.
He studied composition in Switzerland with F. Ghilardotti (pupil of N.Rota, I. Stravinsky).
He obtained scholarships for the training of orchestra professors in Italy with the F. Fenaroli International Youth Orchestra and in Germany with the International Orchestra of the Landesakademie für die Musizierende in Baden-Württemberg.
He has held positions as orchestra professor with the G. Verdi Symphony Orchestra of Milan, "I Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano" Orchestra, S. Remo Symphony Orchestra, G. Cantelli Symphony Orchestra of Milan, European Sinfonietta UK, Ensemble900/Presente of the Conservatory of Italian Switzerland, Lugano Chamber Orchestra.
He has worked in important roles with conductors such as R.Chailly, Yutaka Sado, Ulf Schirmer, Ch.Lindberg, O.Vänska, A. Veronesi, P. Hinkinen, V. Globokar, V.Ponkin, D. Renzetti, A.Tamayo. In 2002 he recorded unpublished scores by G. Rossini for Decca, with the G. Verdi Symphony Orchestra of Milan and R.Chailly.
In 2014 he appeared on “Paganini” - RSI - for the production of the scenic multimedia tragedy “Kraanerg” by Iannis Xenakis, Arturo Tamayo conductor.
Alessandro was winner of the International Music Competition of Stresa 1997 and of the "City of Stresa Special Prize", European Music Competition (TO) 1997, Swiss Parade 1998 - RSI-SRG-SSR, International Music Competition for Young Performers 2002 - Chieri (TO), FE.BA.TI. Young Instrumental Competition 1993 with the "City of Lugano Special Prize" and "Massagno Musica Prize", International Competition of Musical Interpretation “Lario in Musica 2001”.
He has starred with Ch Lindberg and H. Hardenberger at the 39th Festival de Musique De Sion-Valaise for the premiere of "The Ballade of KitBone" by F. Högberg.
He has premiered the“Tschaikowsky - Paraphrase” for Trombone, Violin and Piano by Meinrad Schmitt at the Musik Forum München; at the Stresa International Festival, the world premiere of L.Abbate's "Paraphrase on the Okra" for orchestra with the European Sinfonietta.By Giacomo Manzoni performed the world premiere of the opera "Clamoroso non Ricominciar Neppure” for Orchestra, in the G. Verdi Milan Conservatory Concert Hall.
Some composers have written specifically for Alessandro works for Trombone Solo that move between contemporary idioms together with intricate melodic lines and technical virtuosity. In 2015 the Swiss composer/conductor Pietro Damiani dedicates to him "Impromptu" pour Trombone Seul and "Theme and Variations for Trombone and Band" published by "Eufonia Brescia"; the Swiss composer Renato Grisoni in 1995 dedicated the "Capriccio for Trombone and Piano" to him; Angelo Bellisario, in 2001 dedicated the "Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra" to him. The composer and organist E.Cominetti dedicates to him: Variations on a theme by Van Eyck for Trombone and Organ, Ave Maria and Clarissima Mater for Voice, Trombone and Organ on texts by H.von Bingen and The Passion of Christ for Trombone and Orchestra.
From 1989 to today, he has also performed the main works for Trombone and Orchestra in concerts, tours and recordings.
Since 2014 his activity has been divided between conducting and composition. Since 2018 he has been musical director of the Schola Cantorum Ambrosiana - Porlezza, Milano’s diocese.
In Italy he is musical director of the Filarmonica di Porlezza and San Fedele Intelvi Wind Band. In Switzerland he is musical director of the Canterini di Lugano Choir, Voci di Canobbio Choir, Filarmonica di Agno.
He has also conducted as a guest many string, wind ensembles and choirs including the Ensemble 900/Presente of the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana, Ensemble TicinoMusica, Camerata Giovanile della Svizzera Italiana and the Orchestra Vivaldi, Symphonische Orchester Mammern, Swiss Accordion Orchestra, Orchestra Mandolinistica di Gandria, TecnoEnsemble and Estro Armonico Academy.
He has conducted works of the 900/present of Mahler - IV Symphony; Pierrot Lunaire, Verklärte Nacht, Schönberg's Erwartung and Schönberg/Webern's KammerSymphonie op.9; Octet for Wind Instrument, Petroushka and Pastorale by Stravinsky; Folk Songs by Berio; Zeitmasse by K.Stockhausen; Boulez's Derive I; KammerKonzert by Ligeti, “Etwas Ruhiger im Ausdruck” by F. Donatoni; “Der wunderbare Mandarin” by B. Bartók.
He has performed in festivals, theaters, churches, universities, museums, conferences, congresses, recordings and broadcasts including the Festival de Musica de Vic (Barcelona), Musik Forum München, Stresa International Festival, Castrocaro Festival, Serassi International Festival, Musica Riva Festival, Fogazzaro Award, Corona Ferrea Concert Society of Monza, Philological Cultural Center of Milan, Magadino International Festival (Switzerland), Carlo Prati Festival (Italy), Montevecchia May Festival (Italy), HungaroFest (Budapest), Concerts De Riells Abbey of Sant Martì (Spain), VolksHaus Theater Zürich, Pantheon International Festival of Liturgical Music (Rome), Apollonio Theater of Varese, Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano,
LAC Theater, Auditorium Stelio Molo RSI, Festival de Musique De Sion-Valaise, RAI, RSI, SRG, SSR.
Since 2017 he is the creator of the international choral festival "InCanto" (Castagnola-Switzerland), now in its 4th. edition.
In 2019 he collaborated with the songwriter Davide Van Desfroos in concerts, record productions and arrangements for choir.
In the literary field, he presented in 2015 an essay on Arnold Schönberg commissioned by the E. Lindenberg Foundation (Switzerland) and published in Italian and English in the catalog "Reto Rigassi Dodecafonia" available at www.fondazionelindenberg.org
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2000
“...er ist ein fantasticher Posaunist und Musiker!
Seine technischen Fähigkeiten sind ausser-ordentlich.
Noch nie habe ich einen Czardas auf diese Weise gehört! ...”
(“...è un fantastico trombonista e musicista! Le sue capacità tecniche sono straordinarie.
Non ho mai sentito una Csardas suonata in questo modo!...”)
Thomas Horch
(Posaune Solist der Berliner Philarmoniker unter H. Von Karajan und des Bayrischen Rundfunk, München)
"...You're a very flexible and facile player with excellent musical taste. Never too much or too little of the musical line, just the right touch. (...) Bach is very tastefully performed. (...) The phrasing on the Saint-Saens "Swan" is really my favorite. It's great expressive and nicely done..."
(..." Suoni con grande flessibilità e facilità con un eccellente gusto musicale. Mai troppo o troppo poco, sempre il giusto tocco. (...) Bach è
suonato con un grande gusto artistico. (...) Il fraseggio nel Cigno di Saint-Saens è veramente il mio preferito. È di grande espressione e raffinatezza...")
Robert Kehle
(Prof. Pittsburgh State University, Principal trombone Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Spokane Symphony Orchestra )
2001
“...c’est un grand soliste de trombone, il est très serieux, il possède une technique exceptionnelle
avec un goût artistique très fascinant ...”
(“...è un grande solista di trombone ed è molto serio.
Ha una tecnica eccezionale con un gusto artistico molto affascinante...”)
Jaques Mauger
(Soliste à l’Opèra de Paris, professeur à l’Académie International Supèrieur de Biella,
Professeur au Conservatoire Supèrieur de Paris)
2005
"...I know him for a musical teather with Ch.Lindberg and H.Hardenberger in the Tibor Varga's Festival. During all these times,
I was very pleased by the artistic approach, the technical abilities and his great attitude."
("...l'ho conosciuto per un teatro musicale con Ch.Lindberg e H.Hardenberger al Festival Tibor Varga. Durante questo periodo, ero
compiaciuto dell'approccio artistico, dell'abilità tecnica e della sua grande attitudine.")
David Bruchez
(Prof. Hochschule für Musik Detmold and Zürich. Principal Trombone Opernhaus and Tonhalle Orchester Zürich)
2014
..." Eccellente trombonista il cui trombone è in grado di commuovere fino alle lacrime"...
(..."Excellent trombonist whose trombone is able to be moved to tears”...)
Nikolaus Frey
(Fuldaer Zeitung)
2015
..." dopo avere ascoltato le tue esecuzioni in concerto nella Basilica di S. Maria ad Martyres – Pantheon Roma ed animato insieme la Santa Messa (21 marzo 2015) desidero complimentarmi vivamente e posso affermare, senza tema di smentita, che sei un grande solista di trombone."
Possiedi una tecnica raffinata ed un eccellente gusto musicale, che fanno di te un esecutore di rara maestria con cui valorizzi questo tuo strumento anche nel rispetto della sua tradizione che risale a diversi secoli or sono.
Sottolineo che il tuo talento e la tua superiore conoscenza tecnica dello strumento, dovrebbero essere sempre più dedicate a favore della creazione di nuovi talenti, ed alla valorizzazione delle formazioni musicali sia strumentali che corali. Sarò lieto di ripetere esibizioni musicali con te in futuro.
Giacomo M. Bogliolo
11 maggio 2015
Comm.Prof. Giacomo M. Bogliolo
Architetto Compositore
Concertista di fisarmonica classica
Dir. Artistico Celebrazioni Giubileo
S. Maria ad Martyres – Pantheon Roma
Dir. Artistico Festival Internazionale
della Fisarmonica - Guido Bogliolo
Membro dell' Accademia Tiberina
(…”after listening to your performances in concert in the Basilica of St. Mary to the Martyrs - Pantheon Rome and animated together the Worship (21 March 2015) I would like to congratulate warmly and I can say without fear of contradiction, that you are a great solo trombone.
You have a refined technique and excellent musical taste, that make you a performer of rare skill
which enhances this your instrument even respecting its tradition that goes back several centuries ago."
I specify that your talent and your superior technical knowledge of the instrument, should be more dedicated in favor of the creation of new talent, and the enhancement of both instrumental and choral ensembles. I look forward to repeating musical performances with you in the future.)
2002
"This is the story of Kit Bones. He ruled the west with a slide trombone.
All alone without a home, he played his plated bone.
He never missed a brassbone fight.
Fastest slide in the west alright.
Blow them down, standing alone, with his slide trombone..."
Sierre (Swiss)
Alessandro - Christian Linberg - H. Hardenberger
The Ballad of Kit Bones
Fredrik Hogberg (born 1971, Sweden)
2013
Luciana Serra and Alessandro Benazzo
at Festival Serassi