Born in Locarno, Switzerland, and a protégé of the great Alfred Brendel, Francesco Piemontesi rose to international prominence after winning prizes at several major competitions including the 2007 Queen Elisabeth in Brussels. In his fast rising career he has already performed as soloist with many leading orchestras under such noted conductors as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Zubin Mehta, Marek Janowski, Charles Dutoit, and Sir Roger Norrington. “His recitals and recordings attest to an artistry which is world-class in its mature refinement” (The Independent, London) and display “a combination of meticulous technical assurance and nearly philosophical introspection” (Musical America).