FROM BAROQUE TO ROCK | De Ascaniis and Fiorentin | Camino Lituano Music Festival

Davide De Ascaniis – violin / electric violin (Italy)
Alessandro Fiorentin – vocals / keyboards (Italy)

“From Baroque to Rock” – is a unique performance of a synthesis between classical music and other genres. The creators and performers of the program are violinist Davide De Ascaniis, often called the reincarnation of Paganini for his extraordinary technique and virtuosity, and Alessandro Fiorentin, who was named “the Italian Freddie Mercury” by the Italian newspaper ANSA. The project was born from the desire to attract a younger audience or those who rarely attend classical music concerts, as well as from the aim to break away from the usual standards and norms of classical performers. The performances are enriched with lights, costumes, and visual elements that complement the music and engage audiences of all ages.

Davide performs using three violins – acoustic, electric, and carbon fiber – while Alessandro complements the performances with vocals and piano. Various combinations of instruments and voice allow for a wide repertoire, including classical, virtuosic violin works that transition into rock, pop, jazz, and improvisation. The performances avoid clichés and tasteless insertions, making the repertoire appealing both to regular classical concertgoers and to newcomers to academic music.

Davide De Ascaniis

Born in Italy in 1991 into a family of pianists, Davide De Ascaniis made his professional debut in 2000 in France, performing Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto with orchestra. After graduating with honors from the Conservatory of Vicenza, he obtained a diploma from the National Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome and continued his studies in New York with renowned virtuoso violinist and composer Albert Markov.

Winner of the AGIMUS Prize in Rome, the Szeryng International Violin Competition in Mexico, and the Grand Prix of the LISMA Foundation in New York, Davide actively performs worldwide, participating in international music festivals and appearing both as a soloist and with symphony orchestras.

Recent highlights include a sold-out debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in New York and a tour in Venezuela performing Paganini’s concerto with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel. Davide remains one of the very few violinists in the world to perform all 24 Paganini Caprices in a single recital.

Since February 2022, he has been a violin professor at the “da Palestrina” Conservatory in Cagliari, Sardinia.

Alessandro Fiorentin

Internationally recognized for his unique voice, charismatic stage presence, wide vocal range, and exceptional musicality, Alessandro Fiorentin is the lead vocalist of the well-known Italian band I Sabia.

In 2013, Alessandro graduated with top honors from the Conservatory of Padua with a degree in piano performance. His recent appearances include private events at the “Plaza” Hotel in Abano Terme and the “Vintage” Festival in Padua. His performances have also been broadcast nationally on radio and television (Mediaset), receiving strong audience acclaim.