Artist Diploma Student Takes Third Place in International Piano Competition by Jennifer Spitulnik '01
			Giacomo Battarino at a private concert in Sestri Levante, Italy. Photo by Marchesa Guendalina Cattaneo Pianist Giacomo Battarino ’02, an artist diploma student from Genoa, Italy, took the third place award at the Los Angeles Liszt Competition, held at Pasadena City College last November. His prize includes an invitation to perform two solo recitals this spring--in Los Angeles and in Santa Barbara--but Oberlin audiences can hear him Thursday, April 12, when he presents his Artist Diploma recital in Warner Concert Hall at 6:30 p.m. He will play Liszt's Harmonies du soir and Venezia e Napoli, Chopin's Ballade No. 4 and Prokofiev's Sonata No. 7. The Liszt Competition attracts participants from all over the world; Giacomo competed with 97 others in his division, some of them from as far away as Japan and South Africa. He performed Harmonies du soir from the Twelve Etudes, Au Bord d'une Source from Années de pèlerinage, and Spanish Rhapsody in this, his first U.S. competition. Battarino is no stranger to competing, though. In Italy, he won first prize in two international competitions: the "Genova 1997" and, in June 2000, the Trofeo Città di Casarza Liguria. He has also won prizes awards in several others national and international competitions. Battarino holds a piano diploma from the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Milan, a diploma on scientific studies from the Liceo Scientifico G. Marconi in Genoa, and a first in English from the Cambridge University. He began his Oberlin studies with Professor of Piano Sedmara Zakarian Rutstein last fall, after working with the late Gaelyne Gabora at Oberlin-in-Casalmaggiore, a three-week summer program, for five years. Oberlin’s reputation, and the friends he made at Casalmaggiore, drew him here, as did the opportunity to study "the world's famous technique--Russian technique" with Rutstein. "I have had four excellent teachers," says Battarino. "When I look for a teacher, I do not look for the name. Rather, I look at how they teach, what they have to offer." At his first meeting with Rutstein, he was, he says, impressed by her ability to impart great wisdom with a few well-chosen comments. Ultimately, continued conversation with her and a campus visit convinced him to study at Oberlin. "Not many people in Italy know about the quality of musical education available in the United States. People here tell me, 'You're from one of the best places in the world [the northwest coast of Italy],' and wonder why I've come here, to Oberlin, Ohio. Flat place. But I really love Oberlin and I consider it a great place that offers the best. We don't have this in Italy--the amazing library here, and the amazing opportunities. Probably, after I finish at Oberlin, I will return to Italy, but I will be talking about the opportunities here."
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