Tour Dates: 22 Nov - 3 Dec, 2012

Born in Paris (France), in 1979, Mr Maxime Zecchini is a young virtuosic pianist whose music is alive and full of imagination. He is unique because he is one of the few pianists in the world who specializes in repertoire for the left hand.

Ticket Information:

23 November, Small Theatre, Culture Center of Tianhe District,  020-38823618
24 November, National Centre for the Performing Arts,   010-66550000
29 November, Meng Minwei Concert Hall, Tsinghua University, 010-62788104 / 62782334
2 December, Shanghai Oriental Art Center,  021-68541234

Born in Paris (France), in 1979, Mr Maxime Zecchini is a young virtuosic pianist whose music is alive and full of imagination. He is unique because he is one of the few pianists in the world who specializes in repertoire for the left hand. Since a young age he has been fascinated with composition and is the author of numerous original works and transcriptions which he often includes in his concerts.

Zecchini is a successful competitor at many prominent piano competitions. In 2000, he won 1st prize in the international piano competition in Arcachon, France. Then, in 2002, he was awarded the Cziffra Foundation prize and, in 2003, he was placed in the semi-finals at the international piano competition in Shanghai, China. Finally, he took 1st prize by a unanimous vote at the international competition in Varenna-Lake Como in Italy.

Among other awards and acknowledgements, Zecchini received a scholarship from the Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet foundation, as well as awards from both the Meyer Foundation and the Mécénat Musical Société Générale (MMSG).

Throughout Zecchini's musical education he has collected many accolades for his performance. In 1995, Zecchini won a gold medal from the Conservatory of Saint Maur-des-Fossés under the guidance of Maurice Blanchot. He went on to study at the Higher Regional Conservatory in Paris where, in 1997, he was awarded the first prize in Jean-Marie Cottet's class. That same year, he began to study at the Higher National Conservatory of Music in Lyon, where he took classes with Géry Moutier and Danièle Renault-Fasquelle. In June, 2001, he earned the DNESM (Diplôme National d'Etudes Supérieures Musicales) with highest honours and a special commendation. In 2002, he received a diploma of technical virtuosity from the Regional Conservatory of Rueil-Malmaison which earned him a place at the National Music Conservatory in Paris where he studied advanced proficiency under Jean-François Heisser.

Zecchini holds a degree from the prestigious Incontricol Maestro Academy in Italy, where his professors were Giovanni Valentini and Piero Rattalino – he is the first French pianist to receive this degree. Zecchini has attended master classes with Maria João Pires, Leslie Howard, Sergio Perticaroli, Dimitri Bashkirov and Marie-Josèphe Jude, and he receives regular guidance from Laurent Cabasso et Olivier Cazal.

Zecchini has been fortunate to work with many great conductors. He has played the left-hand repertoire's great concertos under the direction of conductors such as Jean-Pierre Ballon and Philippe Cambreling. He has also collaborated with the National Orchestra of Ile de France under the direction of conductors Luciano Acocella and Vladimir Cosma.

In France, the festivals Zecchini has participated in include: Pamiers Festival, in the south of France; Château of Pouys-sur-Vannes Festival, set in a magnificent castle; and the Clairac Festival, in Ville-croze. He has given concerts in the concert halls of the following cities: Menton on the French Riviera, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, Saint-Amand-Montrond, Luchon, Montivilliers, Senlis and Saint-Etienne. He has also played at the three main concert halls in Paris, Salle Gaveau, Atrium Magne, Centre Tchèque. In Italy Zecchini has participated in the famous Stresa-Lake Maggiore festival and he was broadcast by the Italian radio station, Rai 3.

In 2006 Zecchini's recording of repertoire for the left hand which includes works from Bach to Ravel was released, it is distributed by Integral Classic under the label Explora Concept. A second volume will come out in stock in September 2011.

Zecchini is happy to have the opportunity to share the immense poetic depth of these virtuosic and spectacular pieces in his repertoire with a wider audience in China.