Soloist in Residence
Federico COLLI
The world-renowned pianist Federico Colli first performed with the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava in 2016 at the Žilina Music Festival. Later, he also played concerts in the Moravian-Silesian capital, where he has repeatedly returned. He fell in love with the orchestra and the city, becoming the Resident Soloist of the JPO in the 71st season.
Pianist Federico Colli, praised by The Daily Telegraph for his “beautifully light touch and lyrical expression” and described by Gramophone as “one of the most original thinkers of his generation,” quickly gained worldwide recognition for his compelling, unconventional interpretations and purity of sound. His first volume of Scarlatti Sonatas, released by Chandos Records, for which he is an exclusive artist, was awarded “Recording of the Year” by Presto Classical. The second volume of sonatas was named “Recording of the Month” by both BBC Music Magazine and International Piano Magazine and was selected by BBC Music Magazine as one of the best classical music albums released in 2020.
Following early successes, including winning the gold medal at the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2012, International Piano magazine selected him as one of 30 pianists under 30 likely to dominate the world music scene in the coming years. In 2023, he was also named in Fortune Italia’s “40 under 40” list of the most influential people in art and culture.
He has performed with renowned orchestras including the Mariinsky Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, RAI Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre national d‘Île de France. He has collaborated with acclaimed conductors such as Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yuri Temirkanov, Juraj Valčuha, Ion Marin, Thomas Søndergård, Ed Spanjaard, Vasily Petrenko, Sir Mark Elder, Dennis Russel Davies, and Sakari Oramo.
As one of the most prolific and astonishing recitalists, he has showcased his mastery in many renowned concert halls including Vienna’s Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, Munich’s Herkulessaal, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, London’s Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, Prague’s Rudolfinum, Paris Philharmonie, Rome Auditorium Parco della Musica, Tokyo Nikkei Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, Seoul Kumho Art Hall, New York Lincoln Center, and Chicago Bennet Gordon Hall. He has appeared at festivals such as the Piano Festival Ruhr in Dortmund, Dvořák International Festival in Prague, Chopin Festival in Warsaw, Lucerne Festival, and Ravinia Festival in Chicago.
Born in Brescia in 1988, he studied at the Milan Conservatory, Imola International Piano Academy, and Salzburg Mozarteum under the guidance of Sergio Marengoni, Konstantin Bogino, Boris Petrushansky, and Pavel Gililov.