Igor Riva

Igor Riva
Captivated by music and the sound of the violin from the age of three, Igor Riva pursued his musical studies at the Milan Conservatory, graduating with distinction at the age of nineteen.

He later perfected his skills under Boris Belkin at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, where he earned a merit diploma and was selected alongside top-tier violinists in the international soloist scene for final concerts. In a letter of introduction that has been carefully preserved, Franco Gulli wrote: "Brilliant virtuosity, clear and powerful sound, and remarkable communicative ability make Igor a particularly interesting artist."
He was chosen as the sole Italian student to participate in a masterclass with Shlomo Mintz in Florence in 2001 and graduated with excellence and a special mention from the Accademia Superiore "Perosi" in Biella, under the tutelage of Ana Chumachenco, a teacher at the Musikhochschule in Munich, and Roberto Ranfaldi, the first violin of the RAI National Symphony Orchestra.
A winner of numerous national and international competitions and festivals, including three editions of the Vittorio Veneto competition, as well as recipient of scholarships such as those from the Rotary Club and SIAE for outstanding conservatory students, he demonstrated from a young age an exceptional level of completeness and versatility as a musician. At the age of fifteen, he performed Mozart's Concerto K 216 with the Conservatory's orchestra in the Sala Verdi of the Milan Conservatory.
He regularly performs as a soloist, also embracing important educational experiences for young people such as "I Piccoli Pomeriggi" and "FuturOrchestra," the latter being part of the Sistema. He enthusiastically engages in chamber music, presenting recitals for solo violin, duets with the piano, trios with the piano, covering a wide repertoire including contemporary music.
He has collaborated with prestigious orchestras such as the "Solisti Veneti," the Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, and the Filarmonica della Scala, working with renowned conductors like Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Muti, and Wolfgang Sawallisch, participating in significant concerts and tours across Europe, Russia, China, and Japan. Currently, he holds a permanent position as the first violinist of the Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali in Milan.