Birthplace: Bergamo, Italy | Studied in: Bergamo, Italy and Berlin, Germany | Resides in: Berlin, Germany
When Giorgio Lazzari was growing up in Bergamo, Italy, the old upright piano in the living room held a magnetic attraction. He was fascinated by its sound as well as the mechanics of how the hammers, pedals, and dampers worked. To Giorgio, the piano was (and still is) a hypnotic and beautiful machine, full of secrets waiting to be discovered.
As a child he often pretended to conduct the music he was listening to. On Sunday afternoons he’d go to the opera with his grandmother. There, he discovered the power of dramatic storytelling through music.
Giorgio began lessons at the local conservatory and often rushed through assignments, so he’d have time to sight-read new (often unassigned) music, which was much more exciting. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Bergamo before moving to Berlin for advanced studies a few years ago.
He loves being immersed in music—a discipline that demands depth, honesty, and curiosity. He says, “it helps me strive for the best version of myself.”
And if not a musician, “I think I’d be a scuba diving guide,” he says. “The underwater world has always been an interest of mine. It offers an escape, a place of peace and introspection.
“One thing I’ve learned from freediving is the importance of breathing. Conscious, deep breathing can have a real impact on how you face stressful situations, including when you’re on the concert stage. Every concert is unique and unrepeatable. Deep breathing helps me be in the moment with what feels like something alive, shaped by the space, the people, the energy of that specific moment.”