Nato nel 2016 nel vivo ambiente musicale siciliano, il Trio Clementi, formato da clarinetto, violoncello e pianoforte, è intitolato alla memoria del compositore catanese Aldo Clementi.
Le sue componenti, che collaborano con diverse orchestre e teatri italiani ed esteri come il Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini di Catania, dedicano una parte importantissima della loro vita musicale all’attività in Trio. Il lavoro di perfezionamento e ricerca le ha viste partecipi di masterclasses con i maestri Giovanni Sollima, Vincenzo Paci, Luigi Piovano.
Il loro impegno nella rivalutazione del repertorio originale per questa formazione le ha condotte all’incisione di un disco monografico con le composizioni di Gaetano Corticelli – compositore bolognese ottocentesco - pubblicato dall’etichetta Da Vinci Classics nel marzo 2021. Il lavoro discografico ha ottenuto un ottimo successo tanto da essere stato trasmesso in Italia su Rai Radio 3 e Radio Classica. Il disco contiene una piccola raccolta, incisa per prima volta da musicisti italiani, dal titolo I Tre Gran Trio, e comprendente il Genere Romantico op. 56, il Genere Fantastico op. 60 e il Genere Religioso op. 63. Il brano che chiude il primo lavoro discografico del Trio Clementi è Pensieri di Bellini op.55, composizione con la quale l’autore bolognese sancisce la sua devozione verso il cigno catanese e che, rimasto silente per più di 250 anni, è la world recording première del disco.
La riscoperta di perle nascoste del repertorio non è stata prettamente sonora, infatti le musiciste si sono anche dedicate alla revisione editoriale dei Tre Generi Musicali, unendo la sensibilità esecutiva ad una profonda ricerca bibliografica. I brani, per la prima volta sono stati pubblicati sottoforma di partitura e sono stati raccolti in un unico volume, pubblicato dalla casa editrice Da Vinci Edition nel Febbraio 2021 e distribuito dalla Hal Leonard Europe.
Nel settembre 2021 vengono invitate a partecipare ad una residenza artistica presso l’Associazione Appassionata di Macerata, dove hanno approfondito lo studio non solo di Dedica, composizione di A. Clementi, dedicatario del trio, ma anche di una importante fetta di repertorio contemporaneo italiano – da Franco Donatoni a Teresa Procaccini, da Nino Rota a Giovanni Sollima – contenuta nel secondo lavoro discografico, pubblicato da Da Vinci Classics nel 2022.
Il disco intitolato Contemporary Italian Trios with Clarinet and Cello, oltre a sancire la proficua collaborazione tra il gruppo da camera e l’etichetta, ha suscitato l’interesse di radio e riviste del settore, costituendo oggetto di interviste e recensioni.
Il Trio Clementi ha al suo attivo un nutrito repertorio che ha presentato al pubblico di prestigiose sale quali il Teatro Lauro Rossi di Macerata, la S.C.A.M di Catania, il Teatro Greco di Palazzolo Acreide, A.F.A.M di Floridia e Accademia Filarmonica di Messina, Palazzo Nicolaci di Noto e il Teatro Vittorio Emanuele di Messina.
The Clementi Trio was born in 2016 and is composed by Sicilian Vanessa Grasso on clarinet, Chiara D’Aparo on cello and Giulia Russo on piano. The trio is dedicated to the memory of famous composer Aldo Clementi from Catania. The three musicians have behind them a solid personal background, made up of advanced courses, participation in competitions and various and diversified musical experiences, from chamber music, orchestra, stage music. The ensemble is characterized by the uniqueness of the repertoire proposals, aimed at enhancing chamber music Italian and the contemporary repertoire, all corroborated by an intense research activity.
Their commitment to re-evaluating the original repertoire for this formation led them to the recording of a monographic disc with the compositions of Gaetano Corticelli - a nineteenth-century Bolognese composer - published by the Da Vinci Classics label in March 2021. The recording work obtained an excellent so successful that it was broadcast in Italy on Rai Radio 3 and Radio Classica. The disc contains a small collection, recorded for the first time by Italian musicians, entitled I Tre Gran Trio, and including the Romantic Genre op. 56, the Fantastic Genre op. 60 and the Religious Genre op. 63. The piece that closes the first recording work of the Clementi Trio is Pensieri di Bellini op.55, a composition with which the Bolognese author sanctions his devotion to the Catania swan and which, having remained silent for more than 250 years, is the world recording première of the disc.
The rediscovery of hidden pearls of the repertoire has not been purely sound, in fact the musicians have also dedicated themselves to the editorial revision of the Three Musical Genres, combining executive sensitivity with in-depth bibliographic research. The songs, for the first time, were published in the form of a score and were collected in a single volume, published by the Da Vinci Edition publishing house in February 2021 and distributed by Hal Leonard Europe.
In September 2021 they are invited to participate in an artistic residence at the Association Passionate in Macerata, where they deepened the study not only of Dedication, composition of A. Clementi, dedicatee of the trio, but also of an important slice of Italian contemporary repertoire - from Franco Donatoni to Teresa Procaccini, from Nino Rota to Giovanni Sollima - contained in the second album, published by Da Vinci Classics in 2022.
The disc entitled Contemporary Italian Trios with Clarinet and Cello, in addition to sanctioning the fruitful collaboration between the chamber group and the label, aroused the interest of radio and magazines in the sector, being the subject of interviews and reviews.
The Clementi Trio has to its credit a large repertoire which it has presented to the public in prestigious venues such as the Lauro Rossi Theater in Macerata, the S.C.A.M in Catania, the Greek Theater in Palazzolo Acreide, the A.F.A.M in Floridia and the Messina Philharmonic Academy, Palazzo Nicolaci in Noto and the Vittorio Emanuele Theater of Messina.
Vanessa Grasso, clarinetto
Chiara d'Aparo, violoncello
Giulia Russo, pianoforte
Nata a Catania nel 1995, si diploma presso l’Istituto Superiore Musicale V. Bellini di Catania con il massimo dei voti e la lode, sotto la guida del M° M. S. Schillaci. Ha proseguito gli studi accademici conseguendo la Laurea Specialistica di secondo livello in Discipline Musicali con il massimo dei voti e la lode, con possibilità di una produzione discografica e dignità di stampa della tesi. Ha partecipato a numerosi concorsi pianistici nazionali ed internazionali, riportando in tutti, primi premi e premi assoluti e ha tenuto numerosi concerti da solista, riscuotendo consensi di pubblico e di critica. Si è esibita in concerto al Mozarteum di Salisburgo nel 2014 e nel 2015, inoltre nel 2016 ha eseguito, insieme all’orchestra giovanile dell’Istituto Bellini, il terzo concerto di Beethoven per pianoforte e orchestra. Si è perfezionata con i maestri B. Canino, R. Benway, V. Egorova, F. Nicolosi, J. Achùcarro, G.Gruzman, G. Otto, N. Troull, F. Turissini, B. Lupo, A. Lucchesini e A. delle Vigne, dal quale ha ricevuto nel 2014, nel 2015 e nel 2018 una borsa di studio per l’Universitat Mozarteum di Salisburgo. Attualmente frequenta il corso biennale specialistico presso l'Accademia del Ridotto di Stradella (PV) sotto la guida del Maestro Aquiles Delle Vigne e il triennio specialistico di musica da camera presso il Centro Studi Musica e Arte di Firenze con il Maestro Pier Narciso Masi, e collabora con il Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini di Catania in qualità di pianista accompagnatore del coro.
Vanessa Grasso, clarinet
She begins studying the clarinet under the push of her grandfather musician. In 2006 she was admitted to the "Vincenzo Bellini" Higher Institute of Musical Studies in Catania in the class of M. Carmelo Dell’Acqua. She graduated in 2011 with full marks and continued his academic study, obtaining, at the same Institute, in 2014 the degree at the end of the two-year period for the training of teachers with full marks and honors and in 2015 the qualification to ' teaching with full marks. At the same time she attended one-year specialization courses with maestro Calogero Palermo and various master classes with masters Patrick Messina, Manuel Jodar, Vincenzo Paci, Giovanni Punzi. She has participated in several theatrical works performing music in world premiere. She has always been involved in a conspicuous concert activity in various chamber ensembles including the Calamus Clarinet Ensemble with which she performed in Milan during EXPO 2015, in Belgium on the occasion of the clarinet festival. She recorded a disc with the singer Rita Botto and with the Sicilian Clarinet Orchestra. With the Clementi Trio consisting of clarinet, cello and piano, she dedicates herself to the classical and contemporary repertoire, also enhancing the composers of the Sicilian territory. Since 2017 she has been a clarinet teacher at the musical high school “A. Musco ”of Catania.
Chiara d'Aparo, cello
She began studying the cello at a very young age in her hometown. In 2007 she was admitted to the cello school at the "V. Bellini ”in Catania where in 2012 she graduated, under the guidance of M. Salemi, with full marks. She carries out an intense chamber music activity that sees her part of various chamber ensembles, including the Clementi Trio, which has performed at S.C.A.M in Catania, A.F.A.M in Floridia and the Accademia Filarmonica di Messina, Concert Association of the city of Noto. Participates in numerous national and international competitions, always ranking in the first places. She also studied at the I Musici Di Parma Academy with G. Gnocchi and participated in masterclasses with R. Filippini, U. Clerici, U. Hoffman, G. Georgescu. She also frequently performs in orchestral formations, and in 2017 she also collaborated with the Santa Cecilia National Orchestra. In 2014 she graduated at the end of the two-year course for teacher training with full marks and honors and in 2015 she obtained the teaching qualification. As orchestral musician she played with internationally renowned artists such as D. Rivera, D. Rea, A. Ducros, E. Bosso, S. Bollani, S. Pagliani, C. Hartmann and M. Argherich. Currently she is improving with M ° Luigi Piovano, first solo cello of the national orchestra of Santa Cecilia. She is suitable for cello auditions in a row at the Regional Orchestra of Calabria, at the Vittorio Emanuele Theater in Messina and at the Massimo Vincenzo Bellini Theater in Catania.
Giulia Russo, piano
She began studying piano in 2005 and in 2007 was admitted to the “V. Bellini” Higher Institute of Musical studies in Catania. Student of Prof. Maria Santina Schillaci, in 2016 she graduated in Piano with full marks and honors. In 2018 she obtained the second level Specialized Degree in Music Disciplines with full marks, honors and with the possibility of recording and printing the thesis. She has participated in numerous national and international piano competitions, reporting in all first prizes and absolute prizes. She performed in concert at the Mozarteum in Salzburg in the summer of 2014 and 2015. In September 2016 she performed as a soloist, together with the youth orchestra of the Bellini Institute, Beethoven's third concert for piano and orchestra. Since 2018 she has been part of the Clementi Trio, a chamber ensemble with a particular tonal refinement. She devoted herself to the activity of collaborating pianist for choirs and opera theater performances, a role she also held at the Massimo V. Bellini Theater in Catania. She has followed numerous master's degrees with great masters such as: Bruno Canino, Randall Benway, Violetta Egorova, Joaquìn Achùcarro, Grigory Gruzman, Gerlinde Otto, Natalia Troull, Fulvio Turissini, Benedetto Lupo, Andrea Lucchesini. Currently she attends the two-year specialist course at the Accademia del Ridotto in Stradella under the guidance of M. Aquiles Delle Vigne and the three-year specialist chamber music at the Centro Studi Musica e Arte in Florence with M. Pier Narciso Masi.