Luciano Sgrizzi was born in Bologna, Italy on 30 October 1910. His musical studies began in 1918 and in 1923 he obtained his piano diploma from the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna. From 1924 to 1927 he toured South America with more than 100 performances in the important concert halls of Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Argentina. He continued his education upon his return to Italy, receiving an organ diploma in 1928 and another in composition the following year, the latter under the guidance of Luigi Ferrari-Trecate. After earning a second piano diploma in 1931 from the Conservatory of Parma, he left Italy in order to divorce himself from the fascist regime. He traveled Europe for several years, spending the winters of 1934 to 1937 in Paris studying musicology and composition with Albert Bertelin. Here he also met Léonce de Saint-Martin, organist of Notre Dame, and Georges Migot. He finally settled in Switzerland in 1938. During the war years he worked as a literary critic and wrote plays and arranged literary works for the radio. In 1947 he became the permanent pianist and organist for the Swiss-Italian Radio in Lugano, giving first-performances of many new works. He discovered the harpsichord at the age of 36 and became so fascinated with this instrument that he decided to devote himself to the study of early music. He was a founding member of the Society Cameristicà di Lugano, directed by Edwin Loehrer, and performed with the ensemble from 1950 to 1960. He participated in numerous festivals as pianist and harpsichordist: Salzburg (1952), Ascona, Stresa, Spoleto, Rome, Milan, Paris, Liege, Flanders, Geneva and others. In 1960 he gave up his activities as composer in order to devote himself to the transcription and editing of 17th and 18th century Italian music. In 1970 he lost an eye but continued his musicological research, concerts and recording activities. He retired from his position at the Swiss-Italian Radio in 1974. Considered one of the great interpreters of 18th century music, seven of his recordings were awarded the Grand Prix du Disque. In 1980 he received the title Commendatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana and in 1985 was named Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by French Cultural Minister Jack Lang. Spending the last years of his life on the French Riviera, he died in Monte Carlo on 11 September 1994.
COMPOSITIONS:
Dancing Song: Valzer (1933); Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra (1935); Trio per archi (1935); Concerto per orchestra (1936); Impressioni (1936); Introduzione e Scherzo per flauto e pianoforte (1937); Paesaggi (1951); Suite Napoletana (1951); Suite Belge (1952); Viottiana, divertimento (1954); English Suite (1956); Sinfonietta Rococo (1956); Elegia e Scherzo per flauto, fagotto e pianoforte (1957); Suite-Serenata (1958); Ostinati per pianoforte (1958).
