A Swiss and Italian composer born August 5, 1975 in Milan.
A pianist by training, Oscar Bianchi studied composition and choral conducting at the Milan Conservatory. He completed his apprenticeship at Ircam (composition and computer music), in Darmstadt (the summer courses) as well as at Columbia University (doctorate in composition), winning many prizes including the Gaudeamus Prize (2005).
Energy, virtuosity and pulsating rhythms are the hallmarks of his music. Oscar Bianchi readily makes use of texts dealing with religious and philosophical experiences, (Ante litteram for six voices a cappella, 2013) or poetic experiences (Primordia rerum, 2003). His encounter with the Vijnana-Bhairava Tantra made a particular impression on him, as shown by his Cantate matra premiered by the Neuevocalsolisten Stuttgart and the Ictus Ensemble at the Musica festival in 2007.
His works reveal a feeling for musical dramaturgy as well as skilful treatment of tone-colour, be it instrumental, vocal or electronic. They are performed by prestigious orchestras and ensembles, notably the Percussions de Strasbourg (Aqba, Nel Soffio Tuo Dolce, 2005), L’Itinéraire (Mezzogiorno, 2005), Klangforum Wien (Anahata concerto, 2008) and the Ensemble Modern (Thanks to my eyes, opera, 2011; Permeability, 2013).
