Alexander Panizza was born in Toronto and started his musical education at the Royal Conservatory of Music. As a teenager, he moved to Argentina and was soon recognized as one of the most talented young musicians of his generation. He won several first prizes in competitions and received scholarships to further his studies in Paris and London. He completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Performance at the Royal College of Music in London, in the class of Irina Zaritskaya, where he was awarded the Esther Fisher Prize to the best performance of French music, the Frank Heneghan Prize for his version of Chopin, Rachmaninov and Scriabin’s studies, the Cyril Smith Prize for his rendering of Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto and the Hopkinson Gold Medal and Shimmin Prize, in the College’s main piano competition.
With a career launched by excellent press reviews and recognized by prestigious awards like the Konex Prize, Alexander Panizza performs regularly in Europe and the Americas, both as a recitalist and as a soloist. His orchestral repertoire includes over thirty piano concerti. After his performance of Brahms' Second Piano Concerto in Munich’s Herkulessaal, the German press observed his virtuosity, his power and the quality of his touch (Süddeutszche Zeitung). Alexander was the soloist at the world premiere of Luis Mucillo’s Piano Concerto at Teatro Colón with Buenos Aires Philharmonic.
His performance as soloist of Ginastera’s First Piano Concerto at the Barbican Hall in London was praised by The Times and The Independent for his “real command of pianistic colour” and the “feeling and panache” of his version. The French press mentioned Panizza’s “fire and passion" in a recital that was qualified as exceptional. Alexander Panizza’s live recording of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas Cycle inspired a documentary by Pablo Romano. Alexander Panizza. Just Piano (2013) received awards in many independent film festivals and portrays Alexander's quest for “the perfect sound, the right silence”.
Alexander’s discography includes Alberto Ginastera's complete piano works (Tradition), and works by David Winkler (Naxos, American composers' series), Muzio Clementi (Cascade) and Carlos Guastavino (Espacio Santafesino). Based now in Toronto, Alexander has an intense activity as recitalist and soloist with orchestra, participating regularly in chamber music festivals and offering master classes throughout the Americas. He also collaborates regularly with non- profit institutions and government agencies projects such as the United Nations Blue Heart Campaign. Alexander is now developing his activities in the digital realm. His video works combine music with visual arts, literature, and film.
Photo Credit: Charles Maurer
