Giovanni Sollima
Person · male · Italy · Palermo · born 1962 · recording since 1996
Italian musician
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Also known as Giovanni Solima · 乔万尼·索利马
Timeline
1960s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: Spasimo
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
2020s
· Album
Album: The Lady from the Sea: Duos for Violin and Cello from Vivaldi to Sollima
Album
source: musicbrainz
Biography
Biography
Giovanni Sollima (born 24 October 1962 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy) is an Italian composer and cellist. He was born into a family of musicians and studied cello with Giovanni Perriera and composition with his father, Eliodoro Sollima, at the Conservatorio di Palermo, where he graduated with highest honors. He later studied with Antonio Janigro and Milko Kelemen at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart and at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg.
As a composer, Sollima's influences are wide ranging, taking in jazz and rock, as well as various ethnic traditions from the Mediterranean area. Sollima's music is influenced by minimalism, with his compositions often featuring modal melodies and repetitive structures. Because his works are characterized by a more diverse and eclectic approach to material than the early American minimalist composers, the American critic Kyle Gann has called Sollima a postminimalist composer.
Sollima teaches at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome and plays a cello by Francesco Ruggieri (made in Cremona in 1679). He has collaborated with the American poet and musician Patti Smith, appearing on her records and performing with her in concert. He also collaborates with the Silk Road Project.
Opera and ballet
Notti di Grazia (1991) - Melodramma in un atto, libretto by Dario Oliveri
Mittersill 101 variazioni sul caso Anton Webern (1996) - Video opera, text by Dario Oliveri, after Goethe
Cenerentola Azzurro (1994) - Text by Dario Oliveri
Casanova (2000) - Choreography by Karole Armitage
Matteo Ricci — Li Madou (2001) - Melologue, text by Filippo Mignini
J. Beuys song (2001) - Choreography by Carolyn Carlson
Ellis Island (2002) - Opera in 2 acts, libretto by Roberto Alajmo
Incidental music for the theatre
Match (1990)
Cordelia & co. (1991)
3 pezzi for " Il sogno spezzato di Rita Atria" (1993)
3 pezzi for "Pippo Fava" (1994)
I Pavoni (1997)
Installations
Imagining Prometheus (2003)
Luminaria (2003)
Discography (as composer)
Aquilarco - Polygram Records - #462546 (1998)
Spasimo - Agora - #216 (2000)
John Africa in "La formula del fiore" - Sensible Records: SSB 012, (1999)
Viaggio in Italia - Agorà (AG 259) (2000)
Violoncelles, vibrez! - Agorà: AG 155. (1998)
Violoncelles, vibrez! (on Tracing Astor: Gidon Kremer Plays Astor Piazzolla) - Nonesuch: 79601 (2001)
Canti rocciosi - I suoni delle Dolomiti (2001)
Works - Sony Music: DED 519769 2 (2005)
Heimat Terra, Fiddle Files (on The Magic of Wood: From Lutherie to Music) - Dynamic: 5092 (2005)
We were trees - Sony/BGM 88697314382 (2008)
Astrolabioanima - Odd Times Record: OTR 001 (2008)
Sonnets et Rondeaux - Cobra Records: CBRA 35 (2012)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 12 | 64.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 15 | 85th |
| Studio albums | 13 | 93.5th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 13 | 89.7th |
| Recording span (years) | 28 | 62th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (15 release groups · 13 studio albums)
Albums · 13
1996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 54:12
1De harmonia5:202Peste8:543Raffaello: Il naufragio9:074Porta dei Greci3:025De harmonia, via dolorosa6:386Il Tracciato di Marta14:407Sento il Canto in Curva6:311998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 58:25
1Aquilarco #1 (Prelude)6:032Aquilarco #2 (Hinton's Drawings)7:333Aquilarco #3 (Ornithomanteia)4:224Aquilarco #4 (Aquilastro)4:075Aquilarco #5 (Leonardo's Ornithopterus)6:166Aquilarco #6 (Spinning Top Prelude)1:537Aquilarco #7 (Rotating dance)6:148Aquilarco #8 (Aria)6:179Aquilarco #9 (Rotating dance)4:0210Loof and Let Dime3:4211Di Di3:3812Give You Up4:182005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 59:14
1Terra Aria5:272Terra Acqua3:033Terra Danza5:384Terra Fuoco3:355Zobeide6:006Byron - The Prophecy of Dante5:017Hell I4:388Hell VI - Conte Ugolino4:499La Spera Ottava10:0710Inversion Recovery4:3411Trio3:5412Notte2:282012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:11:54
1Concerto di violoncello con violini D minor: I. Andante grazioso4:522Concerto di violoncello con violini D minor: II. Presto con spirito3:093Concerto di violoncello con violini D minor: III. Amoroso5:084Concerto di violoncello con violini D minor: IV. Allegro4:145Concerto per violoncello ed archi Bb major: I. Largo3:086Concerto per violoncello ed archi Bb major: II. Allegro2:087Concerto per violoncello ed archi Bb major: III. Largo2:508Concerto per violoncello ed archi Bb major: IV. Allegro5:089'Fecit Neap. 17..' per violoncello, archi e continuo19:0010Sinfonia a 4 violini e basso continuo C minor: I. Largo3:2911Sinfonia a 4 violini e basso continuo C minor: II. Fuga2:3512Sinfonia a 4 violini e basso continuo C minor: III. Largo1:3613Sinfonia a 4 violini e basso continuo C minor: IV. Allegro3:0514Concerto per violoncello ed archi F major: I. Comodo5:1415Concerto per violoncello ed archi F major: II. Grave3:0316Concerto per violoncello ed archi F major: III. Allegro3:152012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 55:23
1L'invenzione del nero5:402Amor vincit omnia2:323Trio3:574Party3:365Dipintore, per malattia5:566Voi sapete ch'io v'amo6:187Lama3:338Quam pulchra es et quam decora, charissima, in deliciis3:059Flagellatione4:5510Note2:3111Scena finale5:3212Lamentatio7:482016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 56:20
1Giacomo Cuticchio - Scherzo4:072BAUCI2:153Marcello Bonanno - Variationes super Ave Maris Stella10:564ARMILLA4:235Pietro Bonanno - Vag Mut Al Nua8:096OTTAVIA4:058CECILIA4:309Gianluca Cangemi - Sonata Cangiante10:527Giovanni Giannone - Minotauro7:03Suite Case: Violin Duos from Vivaldi to Sollima
2018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 23 tracks · 1:01:09
1Suite Case: Wood. Moderato2:022Sonata III in D major, TWV 40:120: Spirituoso1:283Sonata III in D major, TWV 40:120: Larghetto1:274Sonata III in D major, TWV 40:120: Allegro assai1:365Szól a duda, Sz. 98:36: Allegro molto1:026Duetto in G minor, op. 15 no. 3: Vivace4:487Duetto in G minor, op. 15 no. 3: Andante2:458Duetto in G minor, op. 15 no. 3: Presto1:439Duetti per due violini: Carlo0:4810Sonata in E minor, op. 3 no. 5: Allegro ma poco4:0711Sonata in E minor, op. 3 no. 5: Andante – Gavotta – Grazioso1:5512Sonata in E minor, op. 3 no. 5: Presto2:3913Suite Case: B275. Allegro assai2:0914Duo VI in E minor, B. 518: Adagio2:5415Duo VI in E minor, B. 518: Allegro6:4816Duetti per due violini: Bela0:4217Duetto III in B-flat major, Hob. VI: Anh. 3: Thema con Variazioni. Andante6:2418Duetto III in B-flat major, Hob. VI: Anh. 3: Presto3:3719Forgatós: Allegro0:4020Prima Suonata dà Camera à 2 Violini in F major, RV 70: Allegro2:4521Prima Suonata dà Camera à 2 Violini in F major, RV 70: Larghetto2:5922Prima Suonata dà Camera à 2 Violini in F major, RV 70: Allegro molto2:2523Suite Case: Alleluja. Allegro3:26The Lady from the Sea: Duos for Violin and Cello from Vivaldi to Sollima
2020 · studio album
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Tracklist · 26 tracks · 1:06:07
1Lord Aboyne’s Welcome or Cumbernauld House3:072Seconda Suonata, RV 71: Allegro2:333Seconda Suonata, RV 71: Larghetto3:154Seconda Suonata, RV 71: Allegro2:455Hatsin yerge: Moderato, quasi Andante3:016Sonata prima: Andante spiritoso e staccato1:547Sonata prima: Allegro1:508Sonata prima: Prestissimo0:389Intermezzo, op. 39 no. 51:5510Duo IV5:0011Ako umram il zaginam3:3112The Bonny Earl of Murray1:1113Ricercata Terza, I 202: Allegro2:1714Ricercata Terza, I 202: Ciciliana3:5415Ricercata Terza, I 202: Allegro3:2616Adagio molto3:0617Duo III4:1518Sonata Seconda: Andante2:5819Sonata Seconda: Allegro ma non tanto presto1:1320Sonata Seconda: Allegro1:2321Impromptu, op. 39 no. 61:5622Broom of Conyden Knows1:0723Allettamento Secondo: Allegro2:1924Allettamento Secondo: Andante2:2425Allettamento Secondo: Presto2:1026Lady Lauren: Moderato – Allegro – Prestissimo2:59Cello Concerto / Enigma Variations
2021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:10:43
1Pomp and Circumstance March no. 1, op. 396:462Cello Concerto in E minor, op. 85: I. Adagio7:483Cello Concerto in E minor, op. 85: II. Lento4:254Cello Concerto in E minor, op. 85: III. Adagio4:565Cello Concerto in E minor, op. 85: IV. Allegro11:006Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Thema1:547Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation I – C. A. E.2:068Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation II – H. D. S. – P.1:009Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation III – R. B. T.1:3710Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation IV – W. M. B.0:3311Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation V – R. P. A.2:2612Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation VI – Ysobel1:1913Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation VII – Troyte1:1114Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation VIII – W.N.2:1815Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation IX – Nimrod5:1516Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation X – Dorabella2:4717Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation XI – G. R. S.1:0918Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36:. Variation XII – B. G. N.2:3519Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation XIII – Romanza2:5820Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra “Enigma”, op. 36: Variation XIV – E.D.U Finale6:402024 · studio album
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Tracklist · 17 tracks · 54:32
1Violin Concerto in D major, RV 208 “Il Grosso Mogul”: Allegro5:022Violin Concerto in D major, RV 208 “Il Grosso Mogul”: Grave. Recitativo2:373Violin Concerto in D major, RV 208 “Il Grosso Mogul”: Allegro4:344Concerto for Violin, Strings, Lute and Percussion “TYCHE”: Largo3:075Concerto for Violin, Strings, Lute and Percussion “TYCHE”: Capriccio. Allegro6:546Concerto for Violin, Strings, Lute and Percussion “TYCHE”: “A Strange Song” (Hidden Melody: “Fortune My Foe”, Anonymous, William Byrd, John Dowland, etc.). Calmo5:357Concerto for Violin, Strings, Lute and Percussion “TYCHE”: “Rite” (Cadenza). Calmo e libero2:438Concerto for Violin, Strings, Lute and Percussion “TYCHE”: Metamorphosis (After Vivaldi’s “Della tua sorte”from Giustino, RV 717). Allegro moderato7:549Suite italienne: Introduzione. Allegro moderato2:0010Suite italienne: Serenata. Larghetto2:5611Suite italienne: Tarantella. Vivace2:1612Suite italienne: Gavotta con due Variazioni1:1213Suite italienne: Variazione 1. Allegretto0:5014Suite italienne: Variazione 2. Allegretto più tosto moderato1:0515Suite italienne: Scherzino. Presto a la breve1:1816Suite italienne: Minuetto e Finale. Moderato2:1517Suite italienne: Finale. Molto vivace2:142024 · studio album
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Tracklist · 52 tracks · 3:01:16
1Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude2:202Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: II. Allemande4:133Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: III. Courante2:134Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: IV. Sarabande2:425Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: V. Menuet I and II2:526Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: VI. Gigue1:277Suite no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: I. Prélude3:348Suite no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: II. Allemande3:209Suite no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: III. Courante1:4510Suite no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: IV. Sarabande4:1411Suite no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: V. Menuet I and II3:0012Suite no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: VI. Gigue2:2213Suite no. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: I. Prélude2:5914Suite no. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: II. Allemande3:2815Suite no. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: III. Courante2:2416Suite no. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: IV. Sarabande3:3517Suite no. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: V. Bourrée I and II2:5818Suite no. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: VI. Gigue2:5419Suite no. 4 in E‐flat major, BWV 1010: I. Prélude3:1320Suite no. 4 in E‐flat major, BWV 1010: II. Allemande4:0021Suite no. 4 in E‐flat major, BWV 1010: III. Courante3:1022Suite no. 4 in E‐flat major, BWV 1010: IV. Sarabande3:4423Suite no. 4 in E‐flat major, BWV 1010: V. Bourrée I and II4:0924Suite no. 4 in E‐flat major, BWV 1010: VI. Gigue2:2325Suite no. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: I. Prélude5:1326Suite no. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: II. Allemande4:3227Suite no. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: III. Courante2:1028Suite no. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: IV. Sarabande2:5229Suite no. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: V. Gavotte I and II4:2630Suite no. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: VI. Gigue2:3631Suite no. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: I. Prélude3:4232Suite no. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: II. Allemande7:1233Suite no. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: III. Courante3:1334Suite no. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: IV. Sarabande4:1835Suite no. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: V. Gavotte I and II3:4236Suite no. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: VI. Gigue3:4037Horizons (Genesis, Foxtrot, 1972) for cello solo1:2038Partita di Gavote sopra un Basso8:5939Gigue from Suite no. 1 for cello and piano1:3140Aparecidos for cello solo2:5041Sonata II da “Trattenimento Musicale sopra il Violoncello” for cello solo without bass3:5642Jook‐urr‐pa for cello solo4:1543Gigue from Suite no. 3 for cello and piano2:5044“Logan Water” da “40 Favorite Scotch Air” for 5 strings piccolo cello2:0845Prayer on the Prelude of the IV. Suite for cello quartet3:5446VI Suite in D major: I. Preludio3:3447VI Suite in D major: II. Allemanda8:2648VI Suite in D major: III. Corrente3:0049VI Suite in D major: IV. Sarabanda4:2950VI Suite in D major: V. Gavotte I e II3:1151VI Suite in D major: VI. Giga3:3052Allemanda for hay cello2:48— · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:08:36
1Violoncellez, Vibrez10:422Concerto7:563Igiul4:404Fandango del Signor Bouqueriny2:215Boccherinero3:556Yet Can I Hear3:457Tree Raga Song13:528Resonance Wood (La foresta dei violini)3:029The Architect4:2710Leaves Postcards2:5311The Dangerous Prevalence of Imagination2:2612Nyagrodha4:2113The Family Tree (Vivaldi)4:16— · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:07:30
1Federico II9:042Giotto - Dante3:113Bella e crudele3:364Campo dei miracoli3:545Ritratto di musico2:126L'ortolano4:267Borromini6:328L'isola Ferdinandea8:429Campo dei fiori3:3510La tempesta3:0611Zobeide6:0312Casanova's Sonata8:1913Cretto1:3714La camera bianca3:13
Album · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Cento domeniche (Colonna Sonora Originale)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 23:361Tema Antonio2:56 2Strada lunga1:47 3Insomnia 22:36 4Fabbrica1:07 5Requiem A1:26 6Strada lunga con cello solo1:44 7Requiem B piano solo1:44 8Tema madre 21:13 9Tema clarinetto1:08 10Requiem B2:39 11Slow 22:03 12Tema Antonio - finale3:13 | Soundtrack | 23 November 2023 |
Other · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Al-Bunduqiyya – The Lost ConcertoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 28 tracks · 1:14:231Kartsilamades: No. 1, Moderato (Arr. Sollima)2:07 2Moghul4:36 3Il concerto perduto: I. Allegro (After Vivaldi's Cello Concerto, RV 787 "Per Teresa")3:17 4Il concerto perduto: II. Andante (After Vivaldi's Cello Concerto, RV 787 "Per Teresa")5:36 5Il concerto perduto: III. Allegro molto (After Vivaldi's Cello Concerto, RV 787 "Per Teresa")2:42 6Improvisation I1:16 7Concerto for Violin and Cello in F Major, RV 544 "Proteo o sia il mondo al rovescio": I. Allegro3:46 8Concerto for Violin and Cello in F Major, RV 544 "Proteo o sia il mondo al rovescio": II. Largo2:40 9Concerto for Violin and Cello in F Major, RV 544 "Proteo o sia il mondo al rovescio": III. Allegro3:02 10Moj E Bukura More (Arr. Sollima)6:14 1126 Violin Sonatas: No. 12 in G Major, B. G2: Aria del Tasso e gondoliera. "Lieto ti prendo e poi" (Transcr. Sollima for Cello and Orchestra)2:05 12Kartsilamades: No. 3, Allegro (Arr. Sollima)2:02 13Improvisation IV0:47 14Concerto for Violin and Cello in B-Flat Major, RV 547: I. Allegro3:56 15Concerto for Violin and Cello in B-Flat Major, RV 547: II. Andante1:41 16Concerto for Violin and Cello in B-Flat Major, RV 547: III. Allegro molto2:37 17Kartsilamades: No. 2, Moderato (Arr. Sollima)2:16 18Dorilla in Tempe, RV 709, Sinfonia: I. Allegro2:00 19Dorilla in Tempe, RV 709, Sinfonia: II. Andante2:07 20Dorilla in Tempe, RV 709, Sinfonia: III. Allegro0:33 21Improvisation V1:16 22Violin Concerto in D Major, RV 208 "Grosso Mogul": II. Recitativo2:42 23Improvisation II0:52 24Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Major, RV 546 "All'inglese": I. Allegro3:18 25Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Major, RV 546 "All'inglese": II. Andante2:42 26Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Major, RV 546 "All'inglese": III. Allegro2:53 27When We Were Trees: The Family Tree4:30 28Improvisation III0:50 | 1 March 2024 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Giovanni Sollima head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 12 | 64.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 15 | 85th |
| Studio albums | 13 | 93.5th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 13 | 89.7th |
| Recording span (years) | 28 | 62th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
aliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/7a3e3412-6f6e-4deb-8979-3b607335b402discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/7a3e3412-6f6e-4deb-8979-3b607335b402core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q585101genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q585101seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Sollimabiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Sollima
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: no portrait (not displayed: the licence credit is missing)
Wikidata: Q585101 · MusicBrainz: 7a3e3412-6f6e-4deb-8979-3b607335b402
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