Artist description Already being hailed as "one of the hottest young pianists in the world," Anthony Molinaro's stunning performances and unique versatility have captivated audiences and critics alike since his victory at the 1997 Naumburg International Piano Competition. Acclaimed for his "edge-of-the-seat brilliance" and "musically imaginative mind," Mr. Molinaro's recital performances have taken him to major music centers throughout the country including Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, and New York's Alice Tully Hall. He has also been featured on Ravinia's Rising Stars Series, The Young Artist Series at the Kravis Center (West Palm Beach), and the Charles Vanda Master Series in Las Vegas. Recent concerto engagements include the Arkansas, Cape Cod, Louisville, Naples, Richmond, and Syracuse Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed with the Canton, Catskill, Eugene, Flint, Savannah, and Utica Symphonies as well as the Chicago Sinfonietta and Chicago Jazz Orchestra. Outside the U.S. Anthony has recently played in Canada, Germany, Italy, and on the island of Anguilla. In addition to his traditional concert repertoire, Mr. Molinaro is also a gifted composer and jazz artist, giving him a musical dimension uncommon to artists of his generation. He often plays his own cadenzas in Mozart and Beethoven concerti, and his "free-wheeling" and "unconventional" rendition of Rhapsody in Blue features improvised cadenzas. In addition to his many recital and orchestral engagements, highlights of the 2001-2002 season included solo jazz performances, a continued collaboration with the acclaimed baritone Jubilant Sykes, and the release of his second recording, a Gershwin collection featuring his own solo version of Rhapsody in Blue. Titled "New Blue," the disc also includes Three Preludes and Anthony's arrangements and improvisations on the Gershwin classics Summertime, Someone To Watch Over Me, Embraceable You, and I Got Rhythm. His 2001 debut CD, "The Bach Sessions," features The Goldberg Variations and the F Minor and A Major Concertos with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Orchestra conducted by Andrew Litton. The upcoming 2002-2003 season will find Anthony in performance with The Napa Valley and Lake Forest Symphonies and in recital in Los Angeles, New York, Indianapolis, Chicago, and at The University of North Texas. His continued collaboration with the Grammy-Award winning harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy will highlight his many jazz appearances and include a series of concerts later in the year to celebrate their first recording together.

Music Style Classical and Jazz

Albums The Bach Sessions, New Blue, The Molinaro-Levy Project, LIVE

Press Reviews "An exceptionally persuasive solo performance. In every solo piece Molinaro played, from his Keith Jarrett-influenced rewriting of "Summertime" to his ferociously syncopated stride-piano sendup "Sketchy" (composed with Howard Levy), Molinaro acquitted himself as an original, often iconoclastic thinker equipped with a leonine technique." - The Chicago Tribune "A lovely singing line in the right hand, a strong left hand that can sing just as beautifully, an even control of rapid configuration, ease and clarity in the distinction of contrapuntal voices, immediate concentration (The Goldberg variations)." - The New York Times "A freshness that I have found in no other performance (the Goldberg Variations)... you have to physically respond to its infectious energy. Molinaro's performances of the two Bach Concertos are as breathtaking as Gould's." - Listener magazine "About the most lively interpretation (Rhapsody in Blue) one could imagine. He put the jazz and blues back into a piece inspired by the same." - Chicago Sun-Times "Brilliant music making…a highly charged performance that will not soon be forgotten or surpassed." - Newark Star-Ledger

Location Chicago, Illinois - USA

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