Biography
Considered one of the most promising Italian cellists of his generation, Alessandro Parfitt has appeared as soloist and chamber musician with a wide range of orchestras and ensembles in Italy and abroad. He has collaborated with ensembles such as the Menuhin Camerata (both as soloist and in chamber music repertoire), Orchestra Archi Italiani, Amati Ensemble, Master Orchestra of Brescia, and the Mihail Jora Orchestra of Bacău, performing under the direction of conductors including Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Renaud Capuçon, Francesco Nocerino, Ovidiu Bălan, Sergio Baietta, Stefano Pagliani and Andrea Pedrazzini, Massimiliano Carlini, Nicola Colabianchi and Nicola Hansalik Samale.
He has performed in major concert halls and cultural institutions such as the Victoria Hall of Geneva, Auditorio RSI and LAC Lugano, Rosey Concert Hall of Rolle, Teatro di Corte of Naples, Teatro Verdi of Salerno, Teatro della Reggia di Caserta, Villa Fondi in Sorrento, Giardini della Mortella (Villa Walton) in Ischia, Museo Franco Messina and Università Bocconi in Milan, as well as at Cremona Mondo Musica 2024. His international activity includes appearances at the International Yehudi Menuhin Festival in Rolle, the Tibor Varga Festival, the Festival de Bellerive, the J. S. Bach Festival of Lutry, the Festival LAC Lugano and Settimane Cameristiche di Lugano, Festival Le Settimane Musicali di Ascona, and performances in France, Spain, Hungary and Austria, including the Théâtre Municipal of Almería.
Repertoire
Alessandro Parfitt combines a strong commitment to the great classical tradition with a deep interest in contemporary and 20th-century repertoire. His artistic focus spans from the Baroque and Classical masters to Romantic and modern works, with particular attention to solo, concerto and chamber music literature.
His concerto repertoire includes works by Vivaldi, Haydn, Boccherini, Dvořák, Saint-Saëns, Lalo, Tchaikovsky, Bruch, Davidoff and Shostakovich.
As a soloist, he regularly performs the complete Six Suites for Solo Cello by J. S. Bach, as well as works by Dall’Abaco, Cassadó, Hindemith , Popper, Piatti, Servais, Crumb and Prokofiev.
Alongside a broad chamber musicactivity, he has carried out in depth research on piano and cello sonatas by Beethoven, Brahms, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Cilea and Boccherini, alongside an active collaboration in duo with pianist Lorenzo Traverso.
Particularly engaged with contemporary music, Alessandro Parfitt has performed works by Kaija Saariaho, George Crumb, Martinez, Luigi Scarpa and Burapha A.Pedrolini, and has contributed to modern repertoire through performances, recordings and editorial work. His discographic activity includes recordings for Brilliant Classics and live broadcasts for Swiss Radio (RTSI and Radio Suisse Romande).
He also explores transcription and adaptation, including original arrangements for solo cello, expanding the expressive and technical possibilities of the instrument.
“An autumn concert of great beauty and quality… Parfitt is truly a great talent of the cello, with powerful technique and a distinctive musical personality. Excellent attacks, precise tempi, and a full, determined sound.”