Paolo Borciani
Born in Reggio Emilia in 1922, he dedicated his whole life to music; he is the founder and first violin of the Quartetto Italiano.
After a memorable concert in New York in November 1951, the quartet was greeted by Virgil Thomson as "the finest quartet, unquestionably, that our century has known". The ensemble performed in the most prestigiuos venues of Europe, North America and Japan, including the great festivals of Saltzburg, Luzern, Berlin, Aix-en-Provence. The four members teached at the Royal Academy of Stockholm, the Vacanze Musicali in Venice and the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. Paolo Borciani has served many times as juror in international competitions and has held master classes at the Hochschule in Karlsruhe and in Freiburg. He has also been professor of violin and of string quartet at the Conservatory of Milan. 1985, his last year, was dedicated to the transcription for string quartet of The Art of Fugue, Bach’s unfinisched masterpiece; the work was performed during an extraordinary concert at Teatro alla Scala in Milan by Paolo Borciani, Elisa Pegreffi and the violist and cellist from the Giovane Quartetto Italiano.
Paolo Borciani wrote a number of reviews and books, the most important of which is Il Quartetto (Ricordi 1973), a book but above all a life’s legacy. He was a great musician and a passionate master: his memory lives on in the hearts of all those who had the privilege to know him.
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