Mauro Bertoli

Mauro Bertoli, an Italian-Canadian classical pianist living in Ottawa, is the 2016 recipient of the CAB Foundation's Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Prize for young interpreters. The Prize, which bears the name of the legendary pianist from Brescia, is awarded by the Foundation in collaboration with the International Piano Festival of Brescia and Bergamo. It recognizes outstanding achievement in classical music and is meant to foster and support musicians who have dedicated their lives to the art.

Since 2000, the musicians awarded have been: Maurizio Pollini (2000), Martha Argerich (2001), Vladimir Ashkenazy (2002), Mstislav Rostropovich (2003), Lorin Maazel (2004), Riccardo Muti (2005), Radu Lupu (2006), Evgeny Kissin (2007), Grigory Sokolov (2008), Lang Lang (2009), Uto Ughi (2011), Mischa Maisky (2012) and Yuri Temirkanov (2014).

For the first time, a new category, 'young interpreters', has been added, with the prize assigned to a young musician establishing himself on the international stage.

This year, the committee in charge to select the recipients has chosen Japanese pianist Mitsuko Uchida for the main 'career prize', while Mauro Bertoli has been chosen as the first recipient of the new 'young interpreters' category. Bertoli received the prestigious 'Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Prize for young interpreters' on 29 April 2016, during his debut for the firty-third International Piano Festival of Brescia and Bergamo in Italy, where he gave a solo recital with music by Haydn, Clementi, Beethoven and Liszt.

The idea of adding this new category comes from the willingness of the CAB Foundation and the International Piano Festival of Brescia and Bergamo to help young musicians to develop their careers. The award consists of a monetary prize and a certificate.

Mauro Bertoli studied piano at the Conservatory of Milan with Sergio Marengoni, as well as with world renowned pianists in different European countries. Several years ago he moved to Canada, where today he is Piano Accompaniment Professor at the Conservatoire de Musique de Gatineau. His excellent technique allows him to present extended and difficult repertoire ranging from Scarlatti to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. With his talent, determination and sensitivity, Bertoli is a positive example to new generations of musicians.

During May 2016, Bertoli will tour British Columbia in his duo with cellist Paul Marleyn, and in June 2016 he will perform Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos 1 and 3 with the Wuhan Philharmonic in China.

Information: www.festivalpianistico.it/premio-arturo-benedetti-michelangeli

Posted: 30 April 2016

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