Loved both on and off stage by audiences and critics everywhere for his "commanding technique," (London Times) and "power and bravura" (Berlin Die Welt), Brazilian pianist Caio Pagano is in great demand in major musical and cultural centers around the world. The New York Times called his Beethoven "superb, absolutely first-class." Pagano frequently performs with leading orchestras throughout Central and South America, the United States and Europe. He has been presented in more than 500 performances as recital soloist, chamber musician and orchestra soloist in such diverse places as Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, the United States, Canada, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, England, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, China and Czech Republic. Drawing from the traditional classical repertoire to twentieth-century music gems and world premieres of noted contemporary Brazilian composers, his programs consistently receive rave reviews from music critics wherever he performs.

Mr. Pagano has performed with many leading conductors, including Ernest Bour, Szymon Goldberg, Sergiu Comissiona, Morton Gould, Eleazar de Carvalho, Jose Serebrier, Paul Freeman and James Sedares.

Pagano's artistic talent was recognized at the young age of four, when he began his piano studies in Brazil at Magda Tagliaferro's school. He continued with this illustrious pianist in Paris and followed with Helena Costa in Portugal. He completed his training with Karl Engel in Hanover, and Conrad Hansen at the Hamburg Hochschule in Germany.

Among Caio Pagano's many awards are the International Beethoven Award, Portugal; the International Award in Barcelona; and the Grand Prix of the National Piano Competition in Brazil. Other academic credits of the artist include a law degree from the University of SãoPaulo and a Doctorate in Music from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He is very much in demand to adjudicate international competitions in Europe, the United States, and South America.

As Professor at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, Caio created the International Biennial of Music, which attracted many internationally acclaimed artists who collaborated with him (including Saschko Gawriloff, Cristof Caskel, Raphael Hillyer, Werner Taube, Henry Schuman). He also toured with Pierre Fournier, Janos Starker, Thomas Friedli, Szymon Goldberg, Albor Rosenfeld and the Jacques Thibaud Trio. Caio has been a featured artist at the Miami New World Festival, the Washington Interamerican Fest, the Grenoble Festival, the Megève Festival and many others.

Mr. Pagano has performed with many leading conductors, among them Ernest Bour, Szimon Goldberg, Sergiu Comissiona, Morton Gould, Eleazar de Carvalho, Jose Serebrier, Paul Freeman, and James Sedares.

Presently as a Regents' Professor of Music at Arizona State University, Pagano attracts some of the brightest students on the horizon today. He is also a noted scholar, published in the United States, Europe and Brazil, delineating his vast knowledge of twentieth-century music and the works of composers from Haydn to Schoenberg.

In 2000, Maria João Pires and Caio Pagano co-developed the Belgais, Centre for the Study of the Arts in Portugal. The center hosts an ambitiously innovative series of courses for international students and is ideally located in Ms. Pires' medieval country home in Portugal.

Caio Pagano is a Steinway Artist who is regularly featured on radio, including recent highlights on National Public Radio, and on television. He has appeared regularly on BBC in London, Norddeutsche Rundfunk in Hamburg, Voice of America in Washington D.C., Dutch Radio in Hilversum, Radio de la Suisse Romande in Geneva, and National Broadcasting in Portugal, to name just a few. With more than a dozen recordings heralding his mastery, Pagano has two CDs produced by Summit Records. His most recent CD with this label features Guarnieri's "Chôro" and "Concertino" with the Czech National Symphony, released simultaneously with the 500th anniversary of Brazil's discovery. Mr. Pagano also has a CD with Soundset Recordings featuring Franck's "Variations Symphoniques" (SR 1017) with the Bratislava Radio Symphony, and a new CD with Glissando featuring works of Villa-Lobos, released worldwide in May 2000.

One of the finest pianists Brazil has produced, his transcendental technique is accompanied by exuberant lyricism, intellect and a polished sense of style. Caio Pagano combines a profound knowledge of the arts, literature and music which characterizes his interpretations as authoritative and unique.

Caio Pagano plays French piano music in this exclusive Soundset recording.