Dino Ciani facts for kids
Dino Ciani (born June 16, 1941 – died March 28, 1974) was a very talented Italian pianist. He was known for his wide range of musical pieces and his amazing performances. Sadly, he passed away at a young age, but his music and legacy live on.
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Early Life and Musical Training
Dino Ciani was born in Fiume (which is now called Rijeka in Croatia). He started learning piano at a young age. He studied with Martha Del Vecchio in Genoa. By the time he was just 14 years old, he had already earned his diploma from the Conservatory in Rome.
From 1958 to 1962, Dino continued his advanced piano studies. He learned from a famous teacher named Alfred Cortot in cities like Paris, Lausanne, and Siena. Cortot thought very highly of Dino, calling him "miraculously gifted" and one of the "rarest talents."
A Rising Star: His Career
Dino Ciani's professional career began when he won second prize at the Liszt-Bartók Competition in Budapest in 1961. This was a big step for him! After that, he performed in many famous places around the world. These included Salle Pleyel in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York, and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
In 1968, he made his debut at the famous Teatro alla Scala in Milan. He played Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto with the conductor Claudio Abbado. He also performed with Abbado on other occasions, playing pieces by Prokofiev and Mozart. Dino also worked with another young conductor, Riccardo Muti. Together, they performed Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Bartók's Second Piano Concerto.
His Musical Journey: What He Played
Dino Ciani had a very broad and varied collection of music he could play, especially for someone his age. He performed all of Beethoven's piano sonatas. He was also the first person to record all of Weber's sonatas in 1967.
His repertoire also included works by other famous composers like Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Debussy, and Bartók. Some of his most famous recordings were Debussy's Préludes (from 1972), Schumann's Novellettes (from 1968), and Weber's second and third piano sonatas (from 1970). These recordings are still considered very important in the world of piano music.
Dino worked with many well-known conductors. Besides Claudio Abbado and Riccardo Muti, he also collaborated with Thomas Schippers, John Barbirolli, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, and Carlo Maria Giulini. Some of his last concerts included all of Chopin's Nocturnes and Schubert's Winterreise with singer Claudio Desderi. His very last live performance was Beethoven's Third Concerto with Giulini in Chicago.
Remembering Dino Ciani
Dino Ciani passed away in a road accident in Rome when he was just 32 years old.
To honor his memory, the Dino Ciani Piano Competition was created. It started in 1975 and is held at the Teatro alla Scala. Many famous pianists and musicians have been judges at this competition, including Martha Argerich and Maurizio Pollini. Since 2007, there has also been a Dino Ciani Festival and Academy in Cortina d'Ampezzo, celebrating his life and music.
Discography (selection)
- Dino Ciani: A Tribute. This collection includes works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Weber, Chopin, Schumann, Balakirev, Bartók, and Scriabin. Dynamic (6 CDs)
- Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas. Dynamic (9 CDs)
- Brahms: Concerto No. 1; Liszt: Totentanz; Weber: Sonata No. 2; Debussy: Children's Corner; Bartók: Mikrokosmos VI; Hummel: Sonata Op. 13; Schumann: Kinderszenen; Noveletten; Chopin: Barcarolle. Capital Musica (3 CDs)
- Debussy: Preludes (Books I & II). Deutsche Grammophon (2 CDs; additional works by Debussy played by Tamás Vásáry)
- Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 3. Orchestra Sinfonica della RAI cond. Vittorio Gui. Doremi (CD)
- Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 4. Orchestra della Scala cond. Claudio Abbado. Myto (CD)
- Mozart: Piano Concertos. Nos. 20 and 24 cond. Gianandrea Gavazzeni. Dynamic (CD)
- Rossini: Album de Chaumière, Album de Château. Fonit Cetra (CD)
- The Genius of Dino Ciani; Debussy (Préludes), Schumann (Novelettes), von Weber (Piano sonata's 2 and 3), Bartók (Out of Doors, volume 2); Original recordings made by Deutsche Grammophon, Brilliant Classics, 2010, 3CD)
- Complete Deutsche Grammophon recordings, reissued by DG in 2016
