Alessandro Pierfederici, born in Treviso, Italy in 1966, commenced his studies of pianoforte at a very early age, and at only twelve years old began to accompany foremost opera singers, establishing a collaboration with already famous names like Antonio Salvadori, and Vincenzo Bello, as well as promising young singers such as Roberto Scandiuzzi.  He made his debut as an accompanist very early, in the production “Musica Giovane” during the Treviso Autumn Music Festival in 1980, then becoming a source of competition between singing and piano teachers for his great talent. 

Consequently, he went on to obtain diplomas in both Pianoforte and Composition, complete studies in Organ and Organ Composition, and begin studies in Orchestral Conducting under M. Descev at the International Courses of Mezzolombardo.  He was later awarded with the prestigious Diploma of Orchestral Conducting from the “Wiener Meisterkurse” at the Vienna Conservatoire under the tutelage of Maestro J. Kalmar (also professor at the Hochschule of the same city), with whom later he continued to perfect his talent in Vienna and Milan.

Having contemporarily specialized as a coach accompanist, he worked in numerous operatic productions: at the Conservatoire “A. Steffani” in Castelfranco Veneto, at Teatro Verdi in Padova, in the first two editions of the “Laboratorio per giovani cantanti lirici” in Savigliano (in collaboration with D. Rubboli), and at the Teatro Comunale of Treviso—through the international workshop “La Bottega”, where he gained enormous experience working at the side of Masters like P. Maag, V. Puecher, G. De Bosio and others.  He then worked for the orchestra of the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza in productions of Fidelio and the 9th Symphony by Beethoven, and for the Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta with the Stabat Mater by Rossini.

Pierfederici was also called upon by the Association Asolo Musica to work as a lecturer in courses on rehearsal accompanying and stage assisting at the Levi Foundation of Venice, in collaboration with the Teatro La Fenice.   Continuing his theatrical involvement, he collaborated as a rehearsal accompanist and stage musical director in numerous productions of the Bassano Opera Festival, and at the Teatro Comunale of Treviso in the role of accompanist and stage assistant—participating, among the various productions, in the Italian premiere of the opera Un segreto d’importanza by Sergio Rendine, along with noted orchestral conductors and important stage directors, among them P.L. Pizzi.

As an orchestral member he has played in various orchestras-- not only as a pianist, but also as an organist, harpsichordist and celesta player in both opera and concert performances.

At the “Musica Riva Festival” he was assistant in the singing courses held by M. Sighele and V. Luchetti, and he has collaborated with numerous voice teachers, among whom M. Chiara, O. Alemanno, G. Cecchele, G. Colmagro, J. Michieli, and A. Mori.

He was the accompanist for the first two editions of the International Competition “Citta` di Savigliano” and for the International Competition “Corradetti” in Padova.  He has also regularly collaborated with L’Accademia “Villa Ca’ Zenobio”  of Treviso. 

As a pianist, Pierfederici has accompanied both internationally famous artists— including G. Raimondi (guest of honor at a concert for his seventieth birthday), N. Martinucci, L. Mazzaria, F. Sartori, A. Silvestrelli, R. Zulian, M. Remor—as well as young emerging artists, in prestigious halls like the Salle Pleyel in Paris, the Teatro Goldoni in Venice, the Teatro Alighieri in Ravenna, twice for the “Pia Tassinari” Award in Faenza, for the “Carlo Cossutta” Award in Trieste, and at the Mole Vanvitelliana in Ancona.

Specifically recommended by Maestro Leone Magiera, he has held numerous concerts at the Primavera Musicale Volterrana.

He has also performed for the “R. Lipizer” Association of Gorizia and during the Treviso Festival “Finestre sul Novocento”, accompanying the tenor F. Sartori and the French soprano L. Mechali.

He participated, accompanying the soprano Lucia Mazzaria, at one of the first concerts of the season of the Teatro Comunale of Casalpusterlengo on the occasion of its reopening, and, in collaboration with RAI International, played live from Castelbrando (Treviso) at the concert for SOS Argentina.  Also in collaboration with the RAI, he accompanied Lucia Mazzaria in the Wesendonk Lieder by Wagner, in a highly popular radio transmission on Radiodue live from Ca’Vendramin (Venice).

He accompanied the famous soprano Wilma Vernocchi and her students in a concert for the 30th anniversary of the association “Il Quadrivio” of Polesella (Rovigo), and newly L. Mazzaria and O. Zanetti for the association “Marzo organistico” of Noale-- in a concert dedicated to Verismo in occasion of Puccini’s anniversary in 2008.  Among the events sponsored by the Lions Club of Sant’Arcangelo of Romagna, he held an evening of music dedicated to the charismatic feminine characters of the operas of the 1800’s, and for the Rotary Club of Bologna he performed as piano accompanist in a concert dedicated to the women from Puccini’s operas.

Both currently and in the past Pierfederici has collaborated regularly with noted Italian and foreign singers working in the most important theatres in the World— including F. Sartori (whom he has musically prepared since the beginning of his career), M. Ryssov, P. Marrocu, and J. von Duisburg (prestigious Wagnerian interpreter).  He also occupies himself with the preparation of young artists, often brought to success at their debut in important theatres (E. Ioannidou, Greek soprano, at the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania and at the Teatro “Alla Scala”; Mayumi Kuroki, Japanese soprano, in Jenufa by Janacek at the New National Theater of Tokyo, later chosen by M. Seiji Ozawa for other productions); M. Prizzon, soprano from Trieste, in the roles of Donna Anna and Fiordiligi for L’ASLICO; and R. Bortoluzzi (baritone from the Veneto and recent interpreter of the role of Dulcamara at Udine, notwithstanding numerous concerts on the Japanese stage).

As well as possessing a profound knowledge of all of the Italian repertoire, he is also specialised in the French and German repertoires, with particular preference for that of Wagner.  Furthermore, he can also claim a notable preparation in chamber music and Lieder, as well as of vocal symphonic and sacred music.

As orchestral conductor, he has been the protagonist of several operatic concerts in Brazil, France and Hungary.  In 2002 he directed several concerts in Italy, and two years later he directed the concert of the winners of the 5th edition of the International Competition “Tito Gobbi” in Bassano del Grappa (“The Orchestra Filarmonia Veneta was optimal under the brilliant direction of Maestro Alessandro Pierfederici…”-- Il Gazzettino, 6 August, 2004).  In 2005, at the request of Maestro H. Soudant, he worked as Assistant to the Conductor for the first national performance of Turandot with the finale of L. Berio at the Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall in Kawasaki and at Suntory Hall in Tokyo.

In July of 2006 Pierfederici made his Japanese conducting debut with an operatic concert in Nagoya, returning the following October to perform at the prestigious Bunka Kaikan Theatre in Tokyo. 

Since 2001 he has been married to soprano Lucia Mazzaria, whom he has helped to sculpt her current dramatic vocality, cultivating her musical preparation and performing regularly with her.

In August of 2008 he was the assistant and coach accompanist for the Master Class of Wilma Vernocchi in the summer course series “Marco Allegri” in Castrocaro Terme.  

In Los Angeles he was featured in a duo with the famous bass from Ancona Andrea Silvestrelli in two concerts produced in joint collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute, the Goethe Institute, and the Los Angeles Opera.

In July of 2009 he gave the inaugural concert “Maestros del canto” of the festival Opera en el Convento in Santa Cruz de La Palma, accompanying baritone Paolo Gavanelli in a recital at the theater Circo de Marte.  Again in Santa Cruz he accompanied the benefit gala “Voces contra el fuego” and the gala for the partnership between Musicaemozioni and A.C.A.P.O., with the participation of soprano Lucia Mazzaria.

His most recent engagement has seen him in Dublin, Ireland at the National Concert Hall, as accompanist to the international names of Dennis O’Neal and Paolo Gavanelli.

Pierfederici has been President of the Music Association Musicaemozioni since April of 2008

For Musicaemozioni he was the accompanist and narrator in a concert dedicated to the arias of the Belle Epoque and an evening of music paired with the performance painter Maurizio Zanolli under the title, “Painting and Music” at Villa Correr Pisani of Biadene (Montebelluna, TV).  In Bologna, in collaboration with the musical festival Cantantibus, he accompanied the soprano Lucia Mazzaria in an evening dedicated to Wagner, as well as another concert that featured the students of the famous singer; in Valdobbiadene he proposed, created, and accompanied a concert dedicated to the Contessa Maffei and in Trieste a gala concert entitled “The Hunt in the Vocal Music of the 1800’s”.  In November of 2009 at the Circolo Unificato dell’Esercito of Treviso the event “Musical Evenings of the Resurgence” was held-- an event in which there was the extraordinary participation of the baritone Paolo Gavanelli.  In San Polo di Piave he realized two events: “Passion, Seduction, Guilt, and Motherhood” and “Emotions of Christmas”.  In Bologna he accompanied a recital by bass Andrea Silvestrelli, a concert entitled “French Opera in the 1800’s”, and a concert at the Circolo Lirico Bolognese entitled “Love Triangles and Contrasted Love”.  An evening of music entitled “The Feminine Figures from the Theatre of Mozart and Da Ponte,” was held at the Circolo Unificato dell’Esercito in Treviso, and yet another concert on “The History of Spain in Opera” was given at Villa Correr Pisani in Montebelluna, which included performances by guest artists from the Canary Islands.

In joint collaboration with UNICEF, Musicaemozioni held a concert of sacred music at the Church of San Giuseppe in Treviso, with funds going to help the children of Haiti.

The latest event of Musicaemozioni saw Maestro Pierfederici newly on stage with the revival of the concert “Love Triangles and Contrasted Love”, performed in Conegliano at the Auditorium Dina Orsi.

The next engagements of the Maestro will be on Spanish soil, in Santa Cruz de La Palma (Canary Islands), where he will hold a Master Class on vocal technique and interpretation at the side of soprano Lucia Mazzaria, and again on the island on the 28th of August, when he will accompany at the piano soprano Janetta Marie Ledell in a Liederabend

november 2010

Maestro Alessandro Pierfederici