From Palermo to Vienna: Diego Spitaleri Brings Sunlit Melodies and Spontaneous Improvisation
As we continue introducing the artists who will join us for Piano Revenge Days Vienna this October, we are very happy to welcome back Diego Spitaleri – an artist whose warmth, sensitivity, and unmistakable Mediterranean spirit left a beautiful impression during this year’s Piano Revenge Festival in Paris.
Originally from Palermo, Diego brings to the piano a musical language shaped by melody, improvisation, and emotional openness. His performances carry a rare sense of sunlight and humanity – blending lyrical intimacy with the freedom and spontaneity of jazz. Whether through delicate solo piano passages or deeply atmospheric improvisations, his music invites listeners into a space of memory, dialogue, and shared emotion.
After his memorable appearance in Paris earlier this year, we are truly delighted to see him return for the Vienna edition of the festival, bringing once again his unique artistic voice and radiant energy to the Piano Revenge stage.
In this interview, Diego reflects on his early fascination with the piano, the profound influence of jazz and improvisation on his artistic identity, the emotional landscapes behind his compositions, and the inspiring experience of performing in a city as musically legendary as Vienna. He also speaks about the importance of independent artistic spaces, future musical explorations, and his desire to continue building bridges between cultures through music.
PRM: “Every pianist has a unique story of how they first fell in love with the instrument. Could you share a bit about your musical journey? What first drew you to the piano, and who or what has been the most significant influence on your development as an artist?”
Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the sound and presence of the piano. There was no piano in my family home, but whenever I visited an aunt who owned one, I would spend hours alone in her living room, trying to reproduce simple melodies by ear instead of playing with my cousins.
Later, my parents gave me first a small electric keyboard, and then eventually an acoustic piano. From that moment onwards, my relationship with the instrument became an essential part of my daily life. I began studying the piano seriously, although my path was never entirely traditional or academic.
A decisive turning point came later through my encounter with jazz. Jazz introduced me to freedom, improvisation, and a much deeper, more instinctive way of experiencing music and the piano itself. It completely transformed my artistic vision and my relationship with sound.
PRM: “Your work as a pianist and composer is deeply personal. Could you tell us about the artistic journey behind the pieces you will be performing at Piano Revenge Days? What emotions or stories are you hoping to share with the audience through your piano art?”
Over the past ten years, I have devoted myself primarily to composing music for solo piano, focusing strongly on melody and on the search for a musical language that is both essential and emotionally intense.
I believe my music reflects a deeply Mediterranean spirit – warmth, openness, human dialogue, and the natural blending of different cultures and influences. It is precisely this Mediterranean identity that I hope to bring with me to Vienna during Piano Revenge Days.
Through my music, I try above all to create a shared emotional space where listeners can reconnect with their own memories, emotions, and inner images. I am less interested in telling a fixed story than in allowing each person to experience something personal and intimate through the music.
PRM: “Piano Revenge Festival is a unique, hundred percent independent event that brings together artists and audiences in intimate, rare and beautiful settings. What drew you to this project? What do you find special about being part of a festival where the focus is purely on art, community, and the love of piano music?”
Piano Revenge Days is far more than simply a festival. To me, it feels like a meeting point for pianists from different backgrounds, cultures, and musical languages, all brought together by a profound love and respect for the piano.
It is precisely this human and artistic dimension that inspired me to become part of the project. In many ways, the festival becomes a kind of creative laboratory, where the piano turns into a vehicle for new stories, new encounters, and new artistic connections.
What makes the experience especially meaningful is that the audience is not merely observing from a distance, but becomes an integral part of an emotional and sensory journey that goes far beyond the traditional concert format.
PRM: “Vienna is a city with an unparalleled musical legacy – from Mozart and Beethoven to the modern avant-garde. What does performing in the heart of the Innere Stadt, just steps from the Hofburg Palace, mean to you personally? How does the spirit of Vienna influence your music or your approach to this performance?”
Vienna is one of the great musical capitals of the world, and having the opportunity to perform there represents a deeply emotional experience for me. On one hand, it is impossible not to feel a certain reverence in a city so profoundly marked by musical history. On the other hand, that extraordinary atmosphere becomes an immense source of artistic inspiration.
To perform in a city that welcomed and inspired some of the greatest composers in history feels like entering, even if only briefly, into dialogue with that immense tradition.
I can only hope that my own small notes may find their place somewhere within that vast ocean of music.
PRM: “Looking beyond this October, what are the dreams or projects that are currently inspiring you? Is there a particular composition you hope to complete, a collaboration you are dreaming of, or a musical boundary you are eager to explore next?”
At the moment, I am beginning to compose new works that I hope to record shortly after the festival. It is an especially creative period for me, and I feel that the exchange with so many pianists and composers – some of whom I deeply admire – will undoubtedly influence the music I create in the coming months.
I am also increasingly interested in exploring new sonic territories while always keeping the piano at the center of my work, opening myself to electronic, ambient, and cinematic influences.
I believe every artistic encounter leaves a trace, and festivals like this can often become the starting point for entirely new musical directions.
Welcome to VIA – Piano & Arts Center, the stage where Piano Revenge Days Vienna 2026 begins its next chapter.
Vienna | 16-17 October 2026 🎟️ Tickets & Info: https://pianorevengedaysvienna.rsvpify.com/
