Daimon: Piano Concerto, Ithaca Suite & Sonatina for Nausicaa Olivia Belli

• Olivia Belli: Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra "Daimon":
• 1 Belli: Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra "Daimon": I. The Departure 07:55
• 2 Belli: Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra "Daimon": II. The Journey 07:26
• 3 Belli: Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra "Daimon": III. The Return 08:15
• Ithaca Suite:
• 4 Belli: Ithaca Suite: I. Proci 03:16
• 5 Belli: Ithaca Suite: II. Telemachus 03:38
• 6 Belli: Ithaca Suite: III. Eumaeus 03:11
• 7 Belli: Ithaca Suite: IV. Penelopeia 03:49
• 8 Belli: Ithaca Suite: V. Eurycleia 03:09
• 9 Belli: Ithaca Suite: VI. Laertes 04:18
• 10 Belli: Ithaca Suite: VII. Pax Athenae 04:20
• Sonatina for Nausicaa:
• 11 Belli: Sonatina for Nausicaa: I. Semplice 02:19
• 12 Belli: Sonatina for Nausicaa: II. Andantino 02:32
• 13 Belli: Sonatina for Nausicaa: III. Allegretto 01:32
• Total Runtime 55:40

Info for Daimon: Piano Concerto, Ithaca Suite & Sonatina for Nausicaa

Whether Johann Sebastian Bach, Frédéric Chopin, Philip Glass or Arvo Part– the works of these composers have inspired Olivia Belli, one of the most captivating voices in the neoclassical scene. Equally, art and literature open new worlds for her, fueling her creativity as a composer. The starting point for her album Daimon, to be released on February 20 by Sony Classical, was Homer’s Odyssey. “It was Odysseus’ fate to return to his homeland Ithaca,” says Olivia Belli. “That’s where his wife and son were – everything that defined him.”

The idea that every life is essentially a journey, one that inevitably leads us toward our true purpose, deeply fascinated the Italian artist from the picturesque Marche region. From this concept emerged the piano concerto Daimon – recorded with a string orchestra and inspired by Italian Baroque music. It consists of three movements: The Departure, The Journey, and The Return. The second movement, The Journey, stands out in particular. It reflects the trials, hardships, and suffering faced not only by Odysseus but also by Olivia Belli herself on her path to catharsis. These emotional highs and lows unfold in strikingly epic soundscapes.

Olivia Belli consciously wove her own biography into the concerto. Daimon spans her life from adolescence to the present. As the daughter of a bank manager, she moved frequently as a child. Despite discovering exciting cities, she always felt something was missing – though she couldn’t quite name it.

That changed at age 14, when an accident left her bedridden for several months. “During that time, I was thrown back on myself. With no distractions, I realized what I truly needed: music and nature.” She had reached the point Socrates once described: “You must know who you are before you go out into the world.” In other words, Olivia Belli had found what the Greek term daimon expresses – her calling. Since then, she has never lost sight of her purpose.

Olivia Belli studied with distinguished pianists and pedagogues including Alexander Lonquich, Jörg Demus, Franco Scala, and Piero Rattalino, and also pursued composition studies, enriching her artistic identity. She has performed at acclaimed events such as the Piano Nights in Amsterdam, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Steinway & Sons Piano Series at the Royal Albert Hall (Elgar Room). Olivia Belli has also composed works for various artists, including Norwegian violinist Mari Samuelsen, French cellist Gautier Capuçon, and British organist Anna Lapwood. Above all, she has continually embarked on sonic explorations for her own recordings – often inspired by nature or Greek mythology. Her latest creative phase, especially with the piano concerto Daimon, has produced something truly exceptional for a neoclassical artist. Rather than relying on force and orchestral grandeur, this work calls for sensitivity – expressed in Olivia Belli’s unmistakable musical language. She favors gentleness, nuanced emotion, and pastel tonal colors.

Following Daimon, her recording continues with the Ithaca Suite, another musical journey into ancient Greece. This piece portrays the characters Odysseus encounters upon his return – including his father Laertes and his son Telemachus. In these Rencontres, cellist Raphaela Gromes, violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing, and saxophonist Jess Gillam shine as guest musicians. Olivia Belli not only contributes her musical signature but also embraces the collaborative spirit with her fellow artists. Her openness to shared creative processes and her refined sense for musical dialogue make her a sought-after partner – both as a pianist and composer. This artistic connection is also reflected in Olivia Belli’s own compositions, where she interweaves personal themes with universal emotions.

Odysseus’ wife Penelope is honored by Olivia Belli with a piano solo at the heart of the Ithaca Suite, its melody gently oscillating between melancholy and hope. “There is no Odysseus without Penelope,” the musician reflects. “Knowing you’re not alone is essential. We exist above all thanks to the people by our side.”

The album concludes with a sonata that openly reveals its unpretentious beauty: the Sonatina for Nausica. Nausicaa was the daughter of the Phaeacian king. She did not shy away when she found the shipwrecked Odysseus on the shore, but instead offered him clothes and food. “Nowadays, few would invite a homeless person into their home,” Olivia Belli observes. “For many, a person’s worth is measured primarily by success or money. Yet we all have our own unique calling.”

Olivia Belli, piano
Raphaela Gromes, cello
Eldbjörg Hemsing, violin
Jess Gillam, saxophone
German Chamber Orchestra Berlin
Canea Quartet
John Metcalfe, conductor

Olivia Belli
is a modern classical pianist and composer. Based in the Marche region of central Italy, Belli has reached a worldwide audience, being featured on radio stations such as BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, BBC 6 Music, KEXP and Radio France, and has received millions of streams across leading platforms. She has performed live in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room, TivoliVredenburg Utrecht, Sala Clamores in Madrid, and Silent green Kulturquartier in Berlin.

Last season, Belli was commissioned by the BBC Proms to write a new work for organist Anna Lapwood. Entitled Limina Luminis, the work premiered to critical acclaim and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. Belli also released the EP Sonus Noctis, and gave live performances at Montréal International Jazz Festival and Ottawa’s Music and Beyond Festival

In the 2023/24 season, Belli releases her next album, entitled Intermundia. Written for piano and string trio, Belli recorded with leading members of the Max Richter Ensemble Louisa Fuller, John Metcalfe, and Chris Worsey. She will also compose a new work for violinist Mari Samuelsen.

Belli is exclusively signed with Sony Music’s XXIM Records. On her album Somnio Novo (2022), Belli explores the nocturnal world and the concept of dreams. Throughout this collection of works, Belli returns to the material of her previous album Sol Novo (2021), meaning ​“new sun, new day”. Sol Novo was presented on Scala Radio, Soho Radio and the ClassicFM, and was included in Apple Music’s Classical Live. Previous albums include River Path (2020), released on 1631 Recordings/​Decca Records, and Where Night Never Comes (2018).

In April 2020, Belli recorded and released the ecologically-inspired ensemble album Mater with her husband and musical collaborator, Enrico Belli. The project was conceived as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and profits from the project were donated to the Global Wildfire Conservation charity.

Belli was the first female composer to have been invited by Apple Music to curate its Piano Chill playlist and has been chosen as the cover of Spotify’s EQUAL: Classical playlist, which celebrates the great female composers who continue to transform the classical world. She is a Recording Academy member.

A conservatory-trained pianist, having studied with pianists such as Lazar Berman and Jörg Demus, Belli initially toured Italy, Spain and the United States as a classical performer and released a series of acclaimed albums of music by leading contemporary composers including Philip Glass and Max Richter.

Booklet for Daimon: Piano Concerto, Ithaca Suite & Sonatina for Nausicaa