Biography Short Bio
A multifaceted artist whose career spans composition, performance, and production. His passion for keyboard instruments emerged early in life when he began teaching himself piano as a child.
At just 14 years old, Alessandro composed a cycle of Mazurkas inspired by the works of Chopin. Over the years, he expanded his repertoire, exploring classical composition, jazz, and silent-film music, forming a significant friendship with Eric James, the associate composer of Sir Charles Chaplin. Shortly before a public performance, James described Alessandro as “a pianist of immense talent who will surely make his mark on the musical profession.”
After dedicating years to producing over 500 recordings for various musicians and labels, Alessandro returned to performing, earning critical acclaim for his piano and harpsichord recordings.
His Suittes voor Clavicembel (Suites Op. 1) [BC94187] was nominated as Recording of the Month by Music-Web International, praised for its “nearly eighty minutes of enormously appealing, high-octane invention superbly rendered by Alessandro Simonetto.”
His Erik Satie: Early & Esoteric Works (1887–1897) [AE16019], which includes the world premiere of Chanson Hongroise, garnered widespread acclaim and achieved millions of streams on Spotify and Apple Music.
A passionate advocate of ragtime, Alessandro recorded Scott Joplin’s Complete Piano Works in 2017–18, becoming the only Italian artist to do so. In 2024, he re-recorded Joplin's complete rags in a "more mature" interpretation.
Alessandro’s world premiere recording of Leroy Shield: Laurel & Hardy's Original Piano Music [AE16024] earned five-star reviews from both classical and jazz/pop publications (Mojo, Piano International, Teatro, The Laurel & Hardy Magazine) and was featured on prominent radio stations worldwide (BBC, CBC/ICI Musique, RAI Radio 3, NPO, BR Klassik, and more).
In 2021, his recording of Paradisi's Keyboard Sonatas was a nominee for the German Record Critics' Award and received enthusiastic reviews from Fanfare, American Record Guide, and RAI Radio 3. Gil French of the American magazine Fanfare stated "Listening to Simonetto is like listening to Martha Argerich".
As the founder of OnClassical, a record label distributed by Naxos of America, Alessandro has significantly influenced the music industry. OnClassical was the first classical label to offer its repertoire online, available for direct download. Through this platform, Alessandro has nurtured exceptional talents, producing recordings that have surpassed 150 million streams globally.
Alessandro holds degrees in Pianoforte and Modern Composition (Electronic Music) from the Conservatories of Castelfranco Veneto and Padua. He also studied harpsichord, choral music, choir conducting, and composition.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Alessandro is an accomplished night photographer and drone pilot.
Listening Stats of Simonetto's performances on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube...
A visual representation of the statistics of Alessandro Simonetto's music performances. Font: Naxos Digital / Fuga.
300+
Compositions
30+
Recordings
10M+
Listenings
500+
Productions
5
Websites
150,000+
Photos
Recordings
Alessandro Simonetto has recorded over 30 CDs and albums including complete piano works by Scott Joplin and Leroy Shield, and many discs with Satie's piano music containing some personal researches and unedited pieces.
Spotify
Alessandro Simonetto has reached over 10 million listeners with his albums on Spotify. Several of his tracks are featured in top official playlists.
Latest Albums
List of Key Recordings
2011
- Bustijn, P.: 9 Suites - Brilliant Classics BC94187
2016
- Satie, E.: Early & Esoteric Works - ÆVEA AE16019 [3-CD's]
- Shield, L.: The Laurel & Hardy Original Piano Music - ÆVEA AE16024
- Shield, L.: Laurel & Hardy: Original Piano Music (1930-31, 1935-36) - ÆVEA AE16024D
2017
- Mattheson, J.: 12 Suites - Brilliant Classics BC95588 [2-CD's]
2018
- Joplin, S.: 33 Ragtimes & Waltzes - OnClassical OC18022D [2-CD's]
2019
- Paradies, D.: 8 Sonatas - Brilliant Classics BC95867 [2-CD's]
- Joplin, S.: The Complete Piano Music - OnClassical OC19122B
2020
- Satie, E.: Early Works - OnClassical OC20092B
- Satie, E.: Le Fils des étoiles - OnClassical OC21112B
2021
- Bach, J.S.: French Suites - OnClassical OC23070B
- Satie, E.: Esoteric Works, Vol. 1 - OnClassical OC21122B
- Satie, E.: Esoteric Works, Vol. 2 - OnClassical OC21124B
2022
- Scarlatti, D.: Keyboard Sonatas (20) - OnClassical OC22080B
- Satie, E.: Piano Works (1906-19) - OnClassical OC22092B
- Satie, E.: Piano Works (1913-20) - OnClassical OC22102B
2023
- Scarlatti, D.: Keyboard Sonatas (30) - OnClassical OC23110B
- AA. VV.: Laurel & Hardy: Piano Music (next to be released)
- Irving Berlin: Piano Works (next to be released)
2024
- Handel, G.F.: 37 Minuets, HWV A15 - OnClassical OC24050B
- Handel, G.F.: Minuets, HWV 497-557 - OnClassical OC24040B
- Kancheli: 33 Miniatures - OnClassical OC24112B
- Joplin, S.: (Complete) Rags [New Recording!] - OnClassical OC24050B [2 CD's]
Alessandro has also recorded works by several renowned composers of minimalism and film music, including Ludovico Einaudi, Yann Tiersen, John Lunn, Ólafur Arnalds, Max Richter, Angelo Badalamenti, and Ennio Morricone.
The Satie Piano Works
Repertoire
Erik Satie
Alessandro Simonetto boasts a complete repertoire of Erik Satie’s works, including his lesser-known compositions. Since 2016, he has recorded Satie’s esoteric pieces (spanning three albums, some in multiple versions), humorous works, Nocturnes, minor pieces, and other rare gems. These recordings, released under the Aevea and OnClassical labels and distributed globally by Naxos, have garnered over 15 million streams and widespread acclaim from international critics.
Simonetto’s recordings have been praised in renowned publications such as International Piano, Classica, and Audiophile Sound, cementing his reputation as a leading interpreter of Satie’s music and a key figure in its dissemination worldwide.
With the contribute of renowned international pianist Alessandro Deljavan he has recorded the Satie's complete piano works and transcriptions.
Exhaustive playlists: Spotify YouTube
All covers of Satie's albums boast the privilege of being created with original paintings by the great contemporary portrait artist Mark Deamsteader, featuring actress Emma Watson.
Scott Joplin
Alessandro Simonetto has performed and recorded the complete piano works of Scott Joplin, including all of his rags, waltzes, marches, and other compositions, in two major projects: one in 2018-2019 and another in 2024.
Joplin, born in 1868 and passing in 1917, is best known for his iconic rags, which have become synonymous with the American Ragtime genre. Among his most famous compositions are The Entertainer, Maple Leaf Rag, The Easy Winners, Weeping Willow, and Gladiolus Rag. These works highlight Joplin's genius in blending syncopation with a refined melodic sensibility, making him one of the most celebrated American composers of his time.
The Love for Laurel & Hardy
Alessandro Simonetto has recorded the original music of Laurel & Hardy, composed by Hal Roach Studios’ first composer, Leroy Shield (also credited as Le Roy Shield). Simonetto also created piano transcriptions based on original scores recently uncovered by historian Piet Schreuders, with whom he actively collaborated to produce the highly acclaimed album, Laurel & Hardy: The Original Piano Music.
Alessandro has also recently recorded other piano works, including original transcriptions by Ronnie Hazlehurst of various composers such as Marvin Hatley and others. This new album is set to be released soon.
Miscellaneous Repertoire
Alessandro is deeply passionate about the music of Frédéric Chopin, frequently performing his Mazurkas, Waltzes, and Nocturnes, capturing the lyrical beauty and emotional depth of these timeless works.
Harpsichord Music
A lifelong admirer of the harpsichord, though not considering himself a professional harpsichordist, Alessandro Simonetto has recorded the complete works of Piet Bustijn, Johann Mattheson, and Domenico Paradisi (also known as Paradies) for the label Brilliant Classics.
Always fascinated by the music of Domenico Scarlatti, Alessandro has a repertoire of several of his sonatas, which he has recorded on harpsichord in two separate albums.
Reviews More
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Productions
Alessandro Simonetto possesses an in-depth, scientific understanding of piano mechanics, which he applies to both performance and production. He owns two Steinway D-274 grand pianos, which he personally prepares under the guidance of Steinway Academy technicians. One of these instruments, selected in the late 1960s by the legendary pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, was later entrusted to Alessandro by the widow of one of Michelangeli's students, specifically for his work as a music producer.
The Studio
The studio is located in the basement of Alessandro's home, where the recordings and production edits for the OnClassical label take place: it is a small, intimate space designed specifically by him.
The design process considered several key factors:
- A shape that allows the golden ratio to be integrated into the design;
- The correct proportion between the three geometric axes of the room to avoid sound peaks or dips;
- A concept of acoustic box similar to that of string instrument soundboxes, enabling natural resonance of sound within (the room's walls are "resonant" rather than rigid);
- A wooden floor composed of three layers (oak+spruce+spruce), installed lengthwise (around 10 meters long), and not glued to the ground;
- The room is fully underground, ensuring it is free from external noise;
- The studio is furnished with custom-designed acoustic diffusers that ensure a natural diffusion for classical instruments, ranging from 440 Hz to 4000 Hz, as well as bass traps that were originally designed with ten times the capacity of standard commercial models;
- The studio also features, among other equipment, historic microphones with tube, transistor, and integrated technology;
- The acoustics of the room create a reverberant sound, never dry, which can be easily adjusted with movable curtains.
Saletta acustica 'Eric James' based in Pove del Grappa in 2019.
Inside, the studio houses two Steinway D-274 grand pianos. One, chosen by Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli in 1968, is known for its "special" character, while the other, from 2008, is kept in perfect balance in terms of tuning and regulation.