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MASSIMILIANO GRECO
ARTISTIC COMMENTS
NANETTE GLUSHAK – Artistic Director of Ballet du Capitole – Toulouse
In all my experience, both as a dancer and Director of three ballet companies, Mr Massimiliano Greco, is the finest balet accompanists I have ever worked with.
Mr Greco, is first, a concert pianist, who is able to play scores of ballet easily, and always with sensivity. He is also a composer, wich enables him to improvise the classes with a company or school, as well, with interesting and inspiring melodies.
Mr Greco, is adored everywhere he works for his kindness and generosity.
MICHEL RAHN – Professor, Assistant Director at Ballet du Capitole
Teaching classical ballet for over thirty years on many continents for professional ballet companies and schools, I rarely had the chance to meet a pianist for dance as Mr. Massimiliano Greco.
First his great technique and his sense of rhythm that he makes available to the teacher, but above all his love for dance as a musician.
This doubled with a charming personality, respect of his colleagues and great kindness.
I envy all persons who will have the opportunity to work with him.
GARRY TRINDER – Director of New Zealand School of Dance
I recently spent four days as a guest at the Accademia Internazionale Coreutica where I was accompanied by Massimiliano Greco for all my tecnique classes.
Throughout my diverse experience as a dancer, ballet master and artistic director, I have rarely – if ever – encountered a pianist of Massimiliano’s capability.
His playing is not only inspirational but fresh, exciting, vibrant, and always supportive.
Massimiliano ensures his role is that of collaborator within the class environment, suiting his playing to the physical dinamic sought in each exercise.
He is always sensitive to knowing when passion will inspire the dancer and when to support them through adherence to a strict musical discipline.
I cannot recommend Massimiliano Greco to you highly enough. I only wish that I could tempt him to relocate to New Zeeland for He is a rare gem amongst dance accompanists.
XIOMARA REYES – Principal at American Ballet Theatre
In todays world of ballet we tend to concentrate on the athletic part of this art and forget that dance starts at the level of the heart. In my experience as a dancer and as a coach and teacher, I find that music is the biggest and fastest way to make the connection between the body and the soul. For that, when I'm facing a true artist as Massimiliano I'm always in awe and gratitude. Not only he inspire us in class but his compositions also touch a cord. I can feel it in me and see it in my students, with his inspiration he opens a door were magic becomes possible. And for us, that's priceless.
EGON MADSEN – formerly Director of Netherlands Dance Theatre III
Massimiliano Greco is an artist of great sensibility, professionalism and he is extremely careful to capture all the nuances, the atmosphere and the requirements of a Ballet Master, during a ballet class.
His music enhances the work of the ballet masters and complements thus creating a link between the teacher and students.
I wish him all the best and success in the future.
RINAT IMAEV – Balletmaster at American Ballet Theatre
There is nothing better for a teacher than when he is understood completely by his partneer the pianist. Massimiliano is capable to understand this connection making it really easy for the teacher to bring the class to the next level. For that I'm thankful and would love to work with him anytime anywhere.
CYNTHIA HARVEY – International Ballet Mistress
Massimilliano Greco accompanied me in class in Barcelona this past summer andwas highly professional and helpful. He was truly an asset in the studio!
ALBERTO TESTA – Dance Journalist, writer of dance books
What most impressed me, and I have to say, even surprised about Massimiliano Greco is his total adjustement, because of being an exquisite pianist and musician, not only to the demands of the dance, of which he is humble and devoted accompanist, but the sensible and intelligent introspection in the ballet world. He follows, underscores the rhythms, the cadences and the fascination of dance, so with him, masterfully, you can listen to dance and see the music.
VLADIMIR VASILIEV – International Etoile Dear Maximiliano, it’s really difficult to overestimate the significance (the importance) of a concertmaster in the art of classical dance. And it’s also very difficult to find really good pianists who understand this art.
That’s why I am so greatful to you fo our cooperation and your understanding during our master classes in Caltanissetta. Thank you and wish you happiness in health and artistic life.
GILBERT MAYER – formerly Professeur at Paris Opera- International Balletmaster
Massimiliano Greco is a musician of great sensibility whose profound knowledge of dance makes him a pianist of great quality, visualizing the movement perfectly.
CARLOS ITURRIOZ – formerly Assistant Nacho Duato, Artistic Director Spanish National Dance Company
On August 2002, in Florence ( Italy) I had participated in a pedagogic project where I had the opportunity to share with Maestro Massimiliano Greco his refined artistic skills and professionalism. Massimiliano´s artistry has, in my opinion, all ingredients to make a ballet class musically perfectly developed thanks to his precise musicality, his sharp rhythmical sense and his warm sensibility
Besides I had also the opportunity to experience his mastery in interpretation as well as his talent as composer.
TOM VAN CAUWENBERGH – International Balletmaster and choreographer
Personally I work with big company's in the whole world as a guest teacher accompanied by many excellent piano players. Massimiliano Greco is one of the best classical ballet pianists I've worked with. He always find the right tempo for the teacher and dancers, following quickly with a big repertoire. He is a great support for every dancer and ballet teacher, because of his big competence and his friendly character. Massimiliano is always well prepared and 100% professional in every way and it's a pleasure to work with.
WILFRIDE PIOLLET – Formerly Etoile Paris Opera. Formerly Teacher at Paris Conservatory of music and DanceWorking with Max, during a dance lesson, it's like being in front of an audience that, when you dance, understands your intentions, and reacts accordingly, thanks to this careful attention, it takes you to surpass your limits, with the sole except that he's all your audience, the pianist who plays excellently. It 'an artist able to reappear your desires by adding his creativity to make you go even further in the dance, and this quality is rare, it is proper to chamber music and that's what makes it so rich: listening to the others, the pleasure of being together in an artistic atmosphere, the desire to improve and go to beauty, whether you are on a stage whether you are in a dance studio. You can not talk about feelings of art, during a dance lesson, if there is not a large presence of music, it must come out from the body of the dancer, indipendently if there is or not the musical accompaniment at the time the gesture. But this listening to the body so fine, to be perceptible, it must first be "educated" by constant attention, sensitive musical support and then "revealed" by a dialogue with the music. The piano playing of Max always gives this feeling of "presence" , being careful to changes in atmosphere of steps, whether they are lyrical, joyful, jazzy or with feelings, the movement that comes from our personalities together, pushes to find more and more stimulation to get a happy moment of creation. Taking a lead from Max, we simply "live"!
MIKKO NISSINEN – Artistic Director Boston Ballet, Boston (U.S.A.)"I truly enjoyed working with Mr. Greco. He is genuinely inspiring and a first rate, professional pianist for ballet."
JEAN GUIZERIX - Formerly Etoile at Paris Opera - Ballet Master at Paris Opera (1998-2002)- «Consilleur» for the artistic teaching at National Education of France - Formerly Artistic Director of Ballet du Nord.
Dance does not always need music to exist, but it would be unfortunate not to dance when listening to the life Massimiliano Greco gives to his music. His musical language is generous. The meaning he gives to his notes is an evidence for our world. And what a rhytme! What energy for classes!
In the brightness of the speed as in the poetry of the slow movements we let ourselves be carried away by his harmonies, often tinged with humor and invention.
Massimiliano Greco, whose name sings and dances at a time, is a musician whose eyes and ears are the best senses for the co-workers that we are, really close to the artistic standards that we like.
JEAN PAUL COMELIN - Choreographer/master teacher
To whom it may concern:
If you search for a person in our Dance world who is a talented creator, composer, pianist and teacher of inspiration for dancers choreographers and audiences....,it is in my mind for sure my dear colleague Massimiliano Greco . .
He knows the need of the teacher, he knows the feeling of the piece ,the choreographer 's creative intentions and the dancer's needs so it all becomes One Art. Just like GEORGE BALANCHINE has said "DANCE IS MUSIC"
YANNICK BOUQUIN – International Ballet Master
His knowledge, passion and love for ballet are reflected in his music. As a ballet teacher, it is wonderful to work with a pianist like Massimiliano who understands the exact character and type of music required for each exercise that I give, which also helps the students executing the combination.
His music is a great support to the teacher and the dancers from both the technical and mental point of view.
Massimiliano can create exactly the atmosphere needed in class in order to work in a very positive and constructive way.
I can only recommend Massimiliano to any teacher and company.
ROBERTO FASCILLA – formerly Director of Teatro San Carlo Ballet Company, Naples - Italy
Maestro Massimiliano Greco is a formidable partner, when he plays piano ballet classes are better and become enjoyable.
MARCO PIERIN – Formerly International Etoile, Balletmaster
Massimiliano Greco, è un ottimo pianista accompagnatore per la danza; è sensibile, intuitivo, collaborativo! Il pianista perfetto per chi come me, cerca in una classe di danza, qualità e raffinatezza musicale!
Marco Pierin, Étoile
CLAUDIE WINZER. (Ballet teacher at Ecole Superieure de Danse R. Hightower – Cannes)
Bravo Massimiliano for your work!
PIA RUSSO - School Principal - Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education
"Un eccellente maestro con una grande conoscenza del balletto accademico e del repertorio classico"
MISHA TCHOUPAKOV - Assistant Professor at School of Dance at University of North Carolina School of the Arts
One of the best Ballet musicians in the business. Highly recommend.
CHILIAN HEREDIA - Independent Ballet Mistress ,Repetiteur, Choach,Independent Dance Adviser International
Massimiliano is a great teacher, music creator. Composer, and pianist. He has a deep knowledge and understanding of ballet, classical repertoire and movement with lots of years of experience. I highly recommended Massimiliano as one of the best musicians in the business
ANDREA DOBRODINSKA – Choreographer, Prague
Massimiliano Greco is unique pianist and composer who represents all the best what you can imagine about italian music tradition - the best knowlege of music, the most noble sensitivity, the magnificent imagination for creativity, the skill for simply right complexity and sence for perfection. His music included the typical italian broad deep melody story telling about huge range of emotions and victory of beauty and hope and power of love whatever it could mean. For any choreographer and dancer his music is simply pair of wings what gives to any dancers shoes and heart!
MILENA ZULLO (choreographer and contemporary dance teacher)
I had the pleasure of being accompanied in my lessons by Maestro Massimiliano Greco, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude for his sensitivity, elegance, taste and humor with which he has been able to accompany my movement giving to it a bit 'of his grace.
SARA TAYLOR (formerly assistant Deutsche Oper – Berlin)
Massimilano is a pleasure to work with.
He has a wonderful energy and excellent concetration during the class, pushing the young dancers to experience different styles within the music he plays.
He moves with ease between tempi and has a capacity to uplift the class.
FERNANDO SUELS MENDOZA - Dancer at Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch
Few years ago I was working in Italy, teaching a contemporary class and I had the great pleasure to have Massimiliano as a pianist for the class. Another time, I went with the company I work with, to perform in Monaco and one more time we had the change to have Massimiliano as a accompanist. On both opportunities Mr Greco support us, with passion, creativity and great music. Hope to work with him in a future again. Fernando Suels Mendoza.
SANDRA FUCCIARELLI (choreographer, contemporary dance teacher at national Academy of Dance - Rome)
I had the opportunity to appreciate the solid skills, mature artistic sensibility and high professionalism of the Maestro Massimiliano Greco as an accompanist during a summer course in Florence in which I gave contemporary dance classes (Limon school).
Thanks to his profound knowledge of dance movement, Maestro Greco dance integrates the choreuticalmaterial provided to students in the class with an appropriate and rich musical support, contributing to a better and more complete assimilation of the dynamic and rhythmic principles that are at the base of technique .
Maestro Greco realizes with the teacher a valuable supporting artistic collaboration, supporting, with his music, the expressive component of student work.
PATSY KUPPE-MATT - formerly Director of the Ballet of Zaragoza – International Balletmistress
I have experienced many dance class pianists along with my work for over 20 years as a ballet teacher and not every day you come across such an involved and passionate pianist as Massimiliano Greco.
His enthusiasm, knowledge and obvious love for dance are more than evident not even to mention his more than accomplished style and technique on the piano.
The variety of melodies, rhythms and different styles for class are a pure joy for dancers and teachers and his energy seems to be never ending.
Due to the absolute dominion of his instrument he also communicates constantly with the teacher and even with the dancers. It is obvious that he loves his work and his presence is evident in the studio.
HÉLÈNE DIOLOT – International Balletmistress
I followed for several years the progress of Massimiliano Greco in understanding the movements of the dancer's body and his specific rhythms for jumps or in the steps of great fluency.
His high level of professionalism now allows him, accompanying the ballet classes, to give a real substantial aid.
It also has the capability of improvisation that allows him to renew continually his personal repertoire.
Massimiliano Greco has a considerable piano technique, and his enthusiasm for dance makes him a full of life, attentive and very friendly person.
CHRISTINE MILLS -Ballet Teacher Boise Idaho, USA
ALEXIS WEISSENBERG – International concertist
Dear Massimiliano I'm very happy for your good work and above all for what your mind and your hart choise, and the way of doing it, on the art of interpretation.
