Virtuoso & Belcanto APS

The Virtuoso & Belcanto Festival was conceived by classical pianist and professor, Riccardo Cecchetti, its Artistic Director and President. Drawing on his experience as artistic and organizational consultant for classical musical initiatives in Spain and Italy, in 2016 Riccardo founded the Virtuoso & Belcanto Festival in Lucca, Italy.

From Cecchetti’s passion to create an opportunity made by musicians, to support musicians of the future, and to welcome classical music lovers from all over the world, the Festival quickly established itself as one of the most important initiatives dedicated to classical music in Europe.

The Festival’s groundbreaking proposal was based on three closely interrelated elements:

• Educational programs and master classes lead by prestigious international musicians;

• Competitions for the young participants of the Master Classes Program;

• Concerts given by visiting artists and the most accomplished students enrolled in the Festival.

These elements informed the creation of a program rich in public events offered in unique locations in Lucca and Tuscany, including concerts given by prestigious guest artists and some of the most talented young musicians from all over the world, as well as lectures, meetings with artists, and exhibitions and workshops, all in keeping with the musical mission of the Festival.

Many of the most renowned musicians, worldwide, enthusiastically embrace our project including Alfred Brendel, Bruno Giuranna, Boris Berman, Imogen Cooper, Viviane Hagner, Kim Kashkashian, Alain Meunier, Claudio Bohórquez, etc.

The primary mission of the Virtuoso & Belcanto Festival is to promote and nurture talented young musicians. Winners of the Virtuoso & Belcanto competitions - all of whom are students of our courses - have launched prestigious careers. Among the many of them are, notably, the Leonkoro Quartet who won the 1st Prize in two of the most prestigious international competitions in 2022: the Concours International de Quatuor à Bordeaux and the International String Quartet Competition held at London's Wigmore Hall, earning 1st Prize and a collection of nine special awards, including interpretations, residencies, and concert prizes. The Leonkoro Quartet immediately embarked on an impressive international career.

The Festival, organized by the Association Virtuoso & Belcanto APS, has developed a profound network of international collaborators, important among which is the Populäre Konzerte Concerts Season at the Berlin Philharmonie, which has been held in Berlin for 66 years. Our collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonie brings the very finest of the young soloists selected from Virtuoso & Belcanto Festival to perform in the Philharmonie’s season's concerts, accompanied by the Sinfonie Orchester Berlin and in the world's most prestigious concert hall. Additionally, we collaborate with many other organizations throughout Europe such as the ORT (Orchestra della Toscana); Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti Napoli; and Nova Orchester Wien in Vienna: we anticipate establishing many more such collaborations. Over the years, twin festivals have already been established in Norway (Grimstad) and Spain (Osuna), and others are in the works, including in the United States.