Young Swiss-Italian pianist Francesco Piemontesi was at BBC Maida Vale studios during November to record his debut album for Naïve with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Jiři Bělohlávek. Featured on the album, due for release in April 2013, are concertos by Dvořák and Schumann. Piemontesi has signed a minimum three-recording contract with Naïve and will release a disc of Mozart Sonatas in 2014, followed by works of Debussy.

‘This partnership came about quite simply by the natural desire for Naïve and Francesco to work together,’ said Naïve director Didier Martin. ‘He is blessed with a musical sensitivity that touched us and, I hope, will have the same effect on all who hear him.’

Piemontesi rose to international recognition as a prize winner at the 2007 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. He had since performed with such leading orchestras as the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna, Zurich and Scottish Chamber Orchestras. Previous recordings include works by Handel, Brahms, Bach and Liszt on Avanti Classics and a disc of Schumann on Claves Records. He also featured as part of the ‘Martha Argerich and Friends’ series on EMI Classics.