Ensemble

Since their coming together in 1993 Tetraktis has been acknowledged as one of the most brilliant, innovative and forward-looking Italian percussion ensemble by critics and audiences of all different ages and backgrounds. Innovation and diversity of programs, insatiable curiosity, virtuosity, passion and fun, and a substantial history of collaborations and commissions are their distinctive marks. The 4 members of the ensemble are virtuosos alone and bring their individual character and experience to the distinct whole of Tetraktis. After their studies at the Conservatory of Perugia they took part in courses and masterclasses held by G.Mortensen, D.Friedman, M. Rosen, R. Wiener, R.van Sice, D. Searcy, M.Quinn, R.Schulkosky, M. Ben Omar. They have regularly featured as orchestral percussionists in orchestras such as La Scala (Milan), RAI National Orchestra (Rome), Teatro Regio (Turin) – Teatro San Carlo (Naples) Teatro Comunale (Florence), Accademia di Santa Cecilia (Rome), Teatro dell’Opera (Rome), Gustav Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Luzern Festival Orchestra, under conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Carlo Maria Giulini, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Lorin Maazel, Daniel Harding, Georges Prêtre, Daniel Oren, Mtislav Rostropovic, Gustav Kuhn, and many others. They are also much in demand as music teachers and presenters with their highly successful educational programs. With more than 250 concerts Tetraktis toured the U.S.A. twice and have brought their infectious playing in major concert seasons and festivals all over Italy as well as in Germany, Turkey, Nigeria and Sweden (invited by world leading ensemble Kroumata in joint performances of Steve Reich’s “Drumming”). Tetraktis commitment to new music have brought a breath of fresh air in Italian musical life. They have given substantial contribution to the repertoire for percussion ensemble by commissioning and championing new works by composers such as Giovanni Sollima, Carlo Boccadoro, Roberto Andreoni, Paolo Ugoletti, Thomas Briccetti, Tonino Battista, Fernando Sulpizi, Carlo Galante, Carlo Crivelli, Paolo Coggiola, Ciro Scarponi, Ramberto Ciammarughi, Maurizio Curcio, Alessandro Annunziata, Fabrizio Nocci, Davide Zannoni, Gianluca Cangemi. Tetraktis' collaborations spans the whole spectrum of today’s music - from Jazz to Pop and Rock, from Dance to Opera. They have featured as guest ensemble or have hosted in their programs artists such as Lorenzo Cherubini aka Jovanotti, David Brutti, Stefano “Cocco” Cantini, Roberto Laneri, Micrologus, Ramberto Ciammarughi, DJ Ralf, Giovanni Sollima, as well as dance/theatre companies and directors Moto Armonico, ATMO, Bruno De Franceschi, Maurizio Smith, Kataklò among many others. Tetraktis’ debut recording “Millennium Bug” was hailed by Ennio Morricone as an “original and heterogeneous CD from both stylistical and timbral points of view, bringing out the best of the multiform percussion world”. Nine years after such a debut CD Tetraktis have gone further on with their most recent, adventurous CD “Drama” - a unique kaleidoscope of new music and sounds featuring guest musicians and friends from virtually every field of today’s music - and are producing new exciting projects. More curious, passionate and surprising than ever.