Pianist Filippo Gorini receives 2023 Franco Buitoni award

The Borletti-Buitoni Trust (BBT) has announced that pianist Filippo Gorini as the recipient of its biennial Franco Buitoni Award. Gorini receives the £25,000 prize in recognition of his Sonata for 7 Cities project.

Launched in 2025, Gorini’s Sonata for 7 Cities project will see the pianist take on seven month-long residecies in his home country of Italy and around the world across one year. Each residency will begin and end with a recital and concerto performance with the city’s symphony orchestra, with the remaining time devoted to partnerships with local outreach activity and performances aimed at underserved audiences.

Ilaria Borletti Buitoni co-founded the BBT with her husband, philanthropist Franco Buitoni, said: ‘I very much admire Filippo’s very generous commitment to sharing his great musical talent and insight with a much wider community, especially those who are often unable to attend major concerts through lack of such things as money, confidence, education and ability.’

The BBT aims to support young musicians with funds, promotion, guidance and contacts. Since its foundation in 2003, the trust has supported 96 individuals and ensembles from 30 countries. The Franco Buitoni Award recognises Italian musicians who promote chamber music in Italy and worldwide, it is given every other year on Franco Buitoni’s birthday (17 March).

Gorini will premiere a specially commissioned piano sonata as part of each residency. So far composers Federico Gardella, Stefano Gervasoni, Oscar Jockel and Michelle Agnes Magalhaes have confirmed commissions as part of the project. Residencies in Milan, Vancouver and Vienna are now confirmed as part of the Sonata for 7 Cities project, with further commitments on the continents of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America under discussion.

Gorini said: ‘The idea is simple: instead of constantly travelling from one concert venue to another, I want to focus on each city for a full month and offer as much as I can to the local community in that time, with the aim of leaving a deeper impression than would be possible with a single performance. I hope to build ongoing relationships and create a new way of developing my career for the long-term future in this way with many more cities around the world.’