Biography
'Having studied with the greatest performers and teachers, Paolo Zanzu is now one of the major figures in the harpsichord world in Europe and in the world. […] He leads an inspiring career as a concert artist and teacher.’ (France Musique)
After his studies in Italy, at the Paris Conservatoire (CNSM), and at the Royal Academy of Music in London, with Orio Buccellato, Noëlle Spieth, Christophe Rousset, Carole Cerasi and Patrick Cohen, he started a career as a harpsichord and fortepiano soloist, that has taken him to major international venues (BBC Proms, Utrecht Early Music Festival, Cartagena International Music Festival, Festival de La Chaise-Dieu, Festival de Radio Frances Occitanie Montpellier).
Paolo Zanzu becomes William Christie's musical assistant. From 2016 to 2018, he directed Les Arts Florissants in Lully’s Monsieur de Pourceaugnac (staged by Clément Hervieu-Léger) on tour in Europe and China.
In 2010, he is a prizewinner at the Bruges International Harpsichord Competition.
During 2017, Sir John Eliot Gardiner appointed him as his assistant for the world tour of the monumental ‘Monteverdi 450’ project.
He took part in the ambitious ’Scarlatti 555’ project organised by France Musique; and made his début as a soloist with the English Baroque Soloists in harpsichord concertos by Bach in 2019.
In 2017, after years of experience in different ensembles (Les Arts Florissants, Les Musiciens du Louvre, the English Baroque Soloists, the Monteverdi Choir, Le Cercle de l'Harmonie), Paolo Zanzu founded his own ensemble, Le Stagioni. Le Stagioni is an ensemble of variable size, gathering together musicians with major international careers as soloists and members of the great European period-instrument ensembles, focussing on the great works of the 18th and 19th centuries.
His recordings have been praised by the press.
Paolo Zanzu is also a committed pedagogue, and has taught basso continuo at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels since 2011.
His educational collection Great Italian Masters of the XVIth and XVIIth centuries was published by Ricordi in 2013.