SILVIA ZANETTI
PIANIST
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Based in Paris, Italian pianist Silvia Zanetti is classically trained in Verona and at the École Normale de Musique de Paris.
Her playing flows freely between classical music, jazz, and French repertoire, expressing a refined, sensitive, and authentic signature style and a distinctive approach to sound, crafting performances that are both elegant and deeply emotive.
Silvia in front of the Maison Gainsbourg, where she is currently pianist in residence.
During a public performance in the heart of Place Vendôme, Paris
In front of the École Normale de Musique de Paris, where she completed her studies
At the Élysée Palace
From the start, Silvia’s artistic journey has unfolded beyond the traditional boundaries of classical piano, following a truly unconventional path.
Born and raised in the southern suburbs of Verona, Italy, she discovered music almost by chance.
“My father bought himself a small electronic keyboard for Christmas. Being naturally curious, I couldn’t resist trying it. I was six.”
From that moment on, the keyboard became a constant presence in her daily life, marking the beginning of her musical journey.
It was an elementary school teacher who first noticed her talent and encouraged her parents to enroll her in a music school, having observed her aptitude during choir practice. In her small town, San Giovanni Lupatoto, there was only one music center, where rock and blues were played in ensembles.
By the age of seven, Silvia was already performing as a keyboardist in neighborhood bars, alongside musicians much older and more experienced than her.
“I learned letter notation, but most of the time I played by ear. The first piece I performed in public was Light My Fire by The Doors. I played on a keyboard with a ’60s organ sound; I learned the famous introduction and solo by ear and earned the respect of all the other musicians.”
Her real turning point came a little later, when, still driven by curiosity, Silvia listened to some classical CDs belonging to her father.
"My first memory is Mozart, the third movement of the Horn Concerto in E-flat major. I was completely struck by this style of music—it was a revelation.”
She listened repeatedly to the roughly ten CDs she had and reproduced everything on the piano.
“Mozart became my idol; I drew him and wrote about him in my secret diary.”
With her growing passion, Silvia attempted admission to the State Conservatory of Verona, where she was told she could formally study classical music.
“I was nine years old. I went alone and played Mozart’s Sonata K.545 in C major entirely by ear.”
The jury was skeptical and initially rejected her. She was admitted only on her third attempt. Although she could not yet read music, her undeniable passion and tenacity ultimately carried the day.
At twelve, she had to quickly learn to read music and catch up with the other students. The beginning was challenging; she often felt behind and out of place in such an academic environment.
She then spent several years in intensive study, balancing classical high school with conservatory training.
“I obtained my diploma from the E. F. Dall’Abaco Conservatory in October 2021. I received a comprehensive classical education and learned to interpret what is called classical music. Yet I still didn’t feel complete: I lacked new stimuli, role models, and the richness of a broader environment. I dreamed big.”
After brief stays in Brescia and Milan, she decided to move alone to Paris at the end of August 2023. There, she had a decisive encounter with Maestro Bruno Rigutto, an Italian-French pianist, who took her under his wing and invited her to study at the prestigious École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot.
She discovered a rigorous academic environment, yet Maestro Rigutto recognized her inclination as a non-conventional pianist and guided her while respecting her individuality. He introduced her to the legacy of Samson François, “an improviser disguised as a concert pianist,” a legendary figure in classical music who was also a regular in Parisian jazz clubs.
It was precisely within these jazz clubs that Silvia experienced her second musical shock, discovering a freedom of expression she had never encountered before. Paris became fertile ground for her artistic growth.
Since September 2025, she has performed regularly at some of the city’s most prestigious venues: Salle Cortot, Hôtel du Crillon, Les Bains Paris—where Prince, David Bowie, and Joy Division helped shape the legend of Parisian nightlife—and even the Eiffel Tower.
Since November 2025, she has held the position of artist-in-residence at the prestigious Maison Gainsbourg, located on Rue de Verneuil in the heart of Paris.
"The figure of Serge Gainsbourg inspires me deeply. It is an honor to perform in a place dedicated to him. Like me, he studied at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He created a musical style entirely his own, which entered the history of French music. He was the first French songwriter I truly connected with.”
Now fully immersed in Parisian life (despite her Italian accent, which she wears with pride), Silvia has recently begun exploring French chanson, a popular genre that she interprets through her own voice while maintaining her classical sensibility.
“I don’t like to limit myself: living in France, I have absorbed a great deal of its culture, and exploring and reinterpreting French chanson has come naturally. I don’t believe in ranking musical genres or labeling one as superior to another—every form of music has its own story.”
Her repertoire today spans from classical music—still her primary artistic language—to atmospheric jazz, and embraces both French chanson and Italian song, always honoring her roots.
Her artistic journey, constantly evolving, naturally invites curiosity: one can only wait to see where this musical adventure will take her next.
