Stefano Sciascia

Stefano Sciascia was born in Turin, on 7th September, 1960. He began studying double bass at the age of sixteen. He soon began playing with various orchestras, including Turin Orchestra della RAI,Claudio Scimone’s Solisti Veneti and the Chamber Orchestra Orchestra da Camera di Padova e del Veneto, performing throughout Europe and North America (at the Edinburgh Festival, Wien Musikverein, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Milano Teatro La Scala, and in Boston, New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco,...). At the same time he devoted himself to researching new music and transcribing it for double bass, enriching thus his instrument’s solo repertoire. In 1994 he recorded his first CD for the record label Rivo Alto: - Opere per contrabbasso e pianoforte G. Bottesini. In the few following years more records were released: 1996 Rivo Alto – Gran Quintetto in do minore e Sonate a Quattro G.Bottesini, G.Rossini 1998 Rivo Alto – Quella Fiamma G.B. Pergolesi, A. Vivaldi, N.A. Porpora, B. Marcello Arie del ‘700 per contrabbasso e pianoforte 1999 Rivo Alto – Concerto D.Dragonetti, S.Koussevitzky ,G.Bottesini 2000 Rivo Alto – Elegie E. Bloch, G. Faurè, F. Poulanc, C. Debussy, … 2002 Rivo Alto – Songs of the World Canzoni tradizionali da tutto il mondo 2004 Stefano Sciascia Production – Mantra 22.22 Meditazione per contrabbasso solo. In 1999 King Records Japan includes two tracks from “Quella Fiamma” in the compilation” King of Bass”. In January 2003 the same record label releases a Japanese version of “Songs of the World” with the title “Contrabbasso!”. The record is distributed internationally through multinational companies such as Virgin Megastore and Tower Records. In June 2003 double bassist Yoshihiro Utsumi founded the S.E.J. (Sciascia Ensemble Japan) in Kobe. This ensemble of musicians bearing Sciascia’s name is very active and performs throughout Japan. In June 2001 Stefano Sciascia made his debut in the USA: he performed a recital at the Butler University of Indianaplis during the I.S.B. (International Society of Bassist) Convention. Two years later he received a standing ovation at the university of Richmond –Virginia-, during the I.S.B. Convention of 2003. On June 2005 he performed at the Big Hall of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, I.S.B Convention . In fall 2004 the magazine “Double Bassist” dedicated a long article to him. The article consists of an interview by editor Maggie Williams and deals with his career, concentrating especially on his release: Mantra 22.22. In September 2004 he was invited in Japan where he taught master classes and played concerts in Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe. He recorded in 2005 a CD dedicated to G. Bottesini , “Adagio Melanconico e Appassionato”, and it features the precious collaboration of pianist David Giovanni Leonardi, who has been playing with Sciascia ever since their first recording together, ten years ago. The Sciascia-Leonardi duo has been performing in Italy and abroad since 1994. His Last recording 2007 is a Tale : The Kingdom of Ibbi Obbi . Double Bass and piano with a narrator and a 32 pages booklet with 16 oil paintings . Music by Rachmaninov Chopin Tchaikovsky Mussorgsky Scriabin Saint Saens Popper Jenkinson . He will play at the next ISB Convention,June 2007 , a program of Hebrew , Klezmer and Classical Music . Stefano Sciascia is head teacher of the double bass class at the Conservatorio di Musica “G. Tartini” in Trieste. He plays an eighteenth century Italian instrument of the Brescian school. Videos photos concerts and recordings here www.stefanosciascia.it