AN EVENING OF MANY PREMIERES: OLIVIA BELLI AT SOUTHBANK
London, 2026
On September 10, 2026, Italian composer and pianist Olivia Belli premiered at the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room, with the opportunity to premiere three of her works as well as perform a selection of her most recent compositions for the London audience. Throughout the performance, Belli was joined by the Piatti Quartet — resident quartet at King’s Place — as well as guitarist Rosie Bennet. It was an introspective evening, during which Belli invited the audience not only to enjoy a wonderful performance, but also to enter her creative world — and mind.
The first part of the evening was a selection of Belli’s works for piano and strings, mostly centred around her penultimate release, Intermundia. Among them, some of the most interesting works performed included “As I Was”, “Bet Ha-Chaim” and “Diomedea”. One standout was a wonderful performance of “Fingers Be Rain” — both impressionistic and a great display of Belli’s proficiency on the piano. Another piece worth highlighting was her homage to a composer who surrounds and influences Belli’s music: Glass and his “Metamorphosis 2”. The piece announced Belli’s upcoming project in homage to the composer’s 90th birthday next year, as well as a single released that evening. Also featured was the premiere of “Terpischore”, introducing Bennet and the Piatti Quartet to the evening. The piece, dedicated to Bennet, gave centre stage to the guitar, leaving Belli modestly in the background. Bennet’s interpretation was elegant and displayed great clarity, leaving the audience wanting more.
The second part of the performance was dedicated to Belli’s most recent works, particularly Ithaca and, of course, the premiere of her concerto for piano and orchestra, Daimon — here, following the classical tradition, arranged for piano quintet. A premiere which was undoubtedly a success, despite some minor hiccups such as lighting malfunctions and enthusiastic clappers (after all, this was a premiere for everyone!). Belli and the Piatti Quartet were met with a standing ovation, with Belli returning for an encore of two additional pieces.
Throughout the evening, Belli punctuated her performance with small talks that, rather than interrupting the flow of the performance, provided insightful context not only on how to approach each piece, but also on Belli’s philosophy on music, and life. This brought a new dimension to music that was already beautiful on its own. Ultimately, the evening felt like more than a concert: it was an invitation into Belli’s musical world, where composition, performance and personal reflection exist naturally alongside one another. A quiet and deeply engaging encounter with an artist whose music continues to develop through curiosity, dialogue and an openness to new possibilities.