| Jazz |
Stefano Bollani & Iiro Rantala: A Duet of Brilliant Minds and Playful Spirits
Iiro Rantala is a composer and pianist we’ve followed for years—an artist who manages to surprise us with each new album. Trained in classical music, he finds a kindred spirit in Milan-born pianist and composer Stefano Bollani, a familiar voice on Bayou Blue Radio, whether through his own albums or through collaborations. Like Rantala, Bollani is a dazzling musician, blessed with wit and charm—a trait they both bring to their latest joint venture.
With such a pairing, and in such a setting, one could expect anything. So it was no real surprise to find their musical propositions fully in line with who they are: two towering figures of European music, capable not only of delighting us, but also of evoking a time when the backbone of an intellectual education in Europe—before the 1990s—was formed through classical music and literature. These small things matter when listening to an album like this, offering a fresh perspective, a subtle detail previously unnoticed, or an unexpected connection, a surprising shift in angle.
Suddenly, an aria may find itself buoyed by stride piano, or a melodic motif might be transposed into a wonderfully improbable key. With their lively and brilliant playing, the two pianists comment on, reframe, and illuminate well-known themes. They revere the original works, yet choose to present them through a new lens. It sometimes becomes a game of musical hide-and-seek, always played with deep respect and inspired use of their sources. To do otherwise would be in poor taste—and wholly against their nature.
“I’m happy to celebrate Italian music,” Rantala says, “with the best possible partner: il Maestro Bollani.” The Italian replies, “Over the course of a career, you meet many musicians very different from yourself. But it’s so much more fun to share the stage with someone who shares your musical taste and approach.” And that’s exactly what strikes the listener from the very first notes: two pianists, kindred in spirit yet culturally worlds apart, blending their deepest emotions in a dialogue that leaves us in awe. It makes us forget the sheer amount of work it takes for an instrumentalist to reach this level—where reimagining entire works becomes a natural act of creation, and performances like this one draw out the most joyful kind of applause.
They are, quite clearly, in perfect harmony. On February 1st, 2023, the duo took to the stage of the Berlin Philharmonie to celebrate a shared passion. The premise may seem surprising at first, but both musicians hold a profound reverence for Italian opera. “I would go as far as to say that some of the most beautiful melodies in the world come from Italy—and specifically, from Italian opera,” says Rantala. “There’s nothing better in music than a good melody—simple and catchy. That’s something you can’t teach. There’s no such thing as a melody class in music schools. Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini, Puccini—they had that gift, the genius of melody! And they used it magnificently!”
I remember an interview we did with Iiro Rantala years ago, on the release of one of his earlier albums. I remember his words, his laughter, the poetry in his voice—a hallmark of every great artist I’ve had the fortune to meet. As for Bollani and Rantala’s shared delight, it’s tangible: their default language is the smile. They are clearly having fun. Even though their repertoire doesn’t come from jazz, there’s nothing more “jazz” than borrowing a great song and making it your own. It’s a paradox that adds a delicious twist. Through Italian opera, Bollani and Rantala have found a playground for their shared humor and deep musical intelligence.
Through artists like these, one can’t help but feel a quiet pride in being European. Italy, so richly represented by the great Paolo Conte, who dances through music, language, and sound—this legacy is continued, in their own playful and poetic way, by Stefano Bollani and Iiro Rantala. For that, we can never thank them enough.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
Editor for All About Jazz
PARIS-MOVE, April 8th 2025
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