British-Argentine composer, conductor and pianist Polo Piatti, whose music is distinguished by its lyrical power, emotional directness and uniquely communicative voice, was educated in Buenos Aires, Paris and Berlin. Piatti has developed an artistic language that bridges the worlds of classical tradition, cinematic imagination and spontaneous improvisation, while remaining deeply rooted in melody, atmosphere and humanity. Over the course of an international career spanning concert music, opera, ballet, symphonic works and solo piano repertoire, Piatti is widely recognised for creating contemporary music that speaks directly to audiences without sacrificing sophistication or artistic depth. His works combine elements of European Romanticism, French impressionism, Argentine rhythmic vitality and a highly personal poetic sensibility that many listeners have compared to the expressive worlds of film music traditions. Piatti’s music has been performed internationally and recorded by distinguished orchestras and performers. His orchestral suite Sentimental Journey - recorded by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - received its world premiere in Osaka, Japan during his 2012 concert tour, while two major works - his Bohemian Concerto for Piano & Orchestra and his Old World Concerto for Concerto & Orchestra, were recorded with the UK’s National Symphony Orchestra. His multi-faith oratorio Libera Nos - regarded as the first work of its kind - was premiered by the London Mozart Players and later attracted the attention of Pope Francis, who sent Piatti a personal letter of congratulations after the score was presented to the Vatican. Piatti has also received recognition at the highest level in the United Kingdom: after being commissioned to compose music for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, he received a personal letter from the Queen appreciating the work. Alongside his work as a composer, Piatti is also recognised for reviving the lost tradition of classical improvisation. During a landmark recital in Tokyo in 2012, he presented what is believed to have been the first full-length classical improvisation piano recital ever performed in Japan - an event that reconnected modern audiences with the historic improvisatory traditions of composers such as Franz Liszt and Frédéric Chopin. Deeply committed to cultural life beyond the concert platform, Piatti has also founded a number of important artistic organisations and special events in the United Kingdom. He established the International Composers Festival to create a platform for living composers and encourage direct engagement between contemporary music and audiences; founded the Hastings Sinfonia with the aim of bringing high-quality orchestral performance and ambitious and accessible repertoire to the South East of England; created the Opus Theatre as a space dedicated to artistically adventurous and emotionally engaging music theatre; and launched the Classicus Salons in order to revive the intimate salon tradition, bringing performers and audiences together through conversation, chamber music and artistic exchange. His catalogue includes works as diverse as the orchestral suite Sentimental Journey, the virtuosic cycle The Impossible Pieces, the improvised collection Vintage Piano, the opera Mata Hari, the ballet Ismanien, the Christmas Concerto for Guitar & Orchestra, his orchestral suite The Tides Of Time, his symphonic poem Duty Sublime, and the acclaimed Argentine Dances. Whether writing for orchestra, choir, theatre or dance, Piatti’s music is characterised by a rare combination of beauty, accessibility, emotional sincerity and structural refinement. At a time when much contemporary classical music often moves away from melody and direct communication, Polo Piatti remains committed to the enduring power of beauty, narrative and emotional connection in music. His work continues to attract audiences internationally who seek contemporary music that is both artistically ambitious and profoundly human. Arthur Ingram