Vittorio Forte

Originally from Calabria, Vittorio FORTE has established himself on the international stage as a pianist of singular refinement. Acclaimed by critics for his “supremely elegant playing” and his remarkably versatile sound, he is particularly drawn to exploring the rarities of the piano repertoire.

After his initial training in Italy, notably with the Argentine pedagogue José LEPORE, a student of Carlo ZECCHI, Vittorio FORTE continued his studies with Christian FAVRE at the Lausanne University of Music (HEM). He later refined his artistry at the International Piano Academy Lake Como, where he received guidance from distinguished masters including Andreas STAIER, Menahem PRESSLER, Fou TS’ONG, and William NABORE.

A prizewinner in several competitions in Italy, Spain, and Switzerland, he gained wider recognition at the 2007 Vlado Perlemuter Grand Prize and subsequently recorded his first album for the Lyrinx label, devoted to the piano works of Muzio Clementi.

He has performed throughout Europe as well as in the United States, Canada, and Japan, appearing at renowned festivals such as the Festival International de Piano de La Roque d'Anthéron, Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier, La Folle Journée, Chopin à Nohant, Lisztomanias, the Lille Piano Festival, and Piano en Valois. He has also performed in prestigious venues including the Victoria Hall in Geneva, the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Charleroi, the Theatre aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht, the Salle Cortot in Paris, the Umeå Opera House, the Fundación Juan March in Madrid, and the Akita Theatre in Japan.

From C.P.E. Bach and François Couperin to the formidable transcriptions of Franz Liszt and Earl Wild, through the masterpieces of Robert Schumann and the works of the Russian composer Nikolai Medtner, and more recently the music of Latin American composers, each exploration of a new repertoire is approached with depth, commitment, and sincerity.

Nominated for the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) in 2014, 2020, and 2026, his discography reflects the diversity and originality of the programmes he champions.

In 2019, Vittorio FORTE began a collaboration with the Italian-American label Odradek Records, marked by a first album devoted to C.P.E. Bach, which received widespread critical acclaim, including a Joker from Crescendo, five stars from Classica, five Diapasons, and a recommendation from Gramophone magazine.

His 2021 release, a tribute to the great American pianist Earl Wild through a selection of his transcriptions, was also warmly received by the international press. It was distinguished as a Musiq3 RTBF Selection, France Inter Album of the Day, Opus d’Or, and Critics’ Choice by International Piano Magazine, with reviewers praising its inventiveness, richly coloured poetry, and elegant virtuosity. His subsequent recording devoted to the Russian composer Nikolai Medtner, also released on the Odradek label, was selected by Le Monde and received numerous accolades, including the Joker from Crescendo Magazine, an Opus d’Or, and a five-star rating from Classica magazine.
In 2025, the release of VOLVER, an album dedicated to Latin American composers, marked the beginning of Vittorio FORTE’s collaboration with Mirare Records. This recording further confirms the eclectic nature of his artistic journey and his commitment to exploring rare and overlooked repertoire.

Recently appointed Professor at the École Normale de Musique de Paris – Alfred Cortot, Vittorio FORTE has also served as Artistic Director for several concert series. Near Geneva, he founded the Centre Musical Intermezzo, an organisation dedicated to promoting young artists through concert seasons, competitions, and lectures. In 2016, he established the C.A.P.A. (Centre d’Activités Pianistiques et Artistiques) in Montpellier, where he leads a programme of masterclasses and oversees the artistic programming of the Piano Intime concert series.