The Italian violist, conductor, and composer was 72
Violist Massimo Paris © massimoparis.com
Italian violist Massimo Paris has died aged 72. He was also a pedagogue, composer, conductor, and soloist with the viola d’amore.
Born in Rome in 1953, Paris studied at the Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia, graduating with the highest honours in viola, composition, and conducting, and studied further at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena and the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève in Geneva, Switzerland. Paris later taught at the Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia, and became professor of viola and chamber music at the Musikhochschule Köln in Aachen, Germany.
Paris performed with ensembles including the Faure Piano Quintet and Faure Piano Quartet, the European String Trio alongside violinist Federico Agostini and cellist Thomas Demenga, and was a founding member of the Stradivari Quartet. He also performed with many other notable musicians including Steven Isserlis, Boris Pergamenschikow, and Menahem Pressler.
Paris founded the Accademia Musicale Italiana orchestra in 1986, and became the musical director and principal conductor of the Concerto Málaga Orchestra in 2003. His compositions have been recorded for Deutsche Grammophon and Philips, and performed across concert venues including the Berlin Philharmonie.
Paris was also involved with the Donegal Chamber Orchestra in Ireland, leading workshops, performances, and various activities as both conductor and soloist. The orchestra paid tribute to the violist on social media:
‘We are very sad to hear of the passing of the great Italian Maestro Massimo Paris… Our deepest sympathies to his family and many friends across the world. He has a great influence on our artistic directors through their many concerts, tours, and recordings together. R.I.P. Maestro.’
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