“…his interpretation has totally shocked me. I have never heard a double bass playing like this before [...] Daniele Roccato is a genius”
Sofia Gubaidulina (Rome 04.05.2013 and Bologna 04.07.2013)
Daniele Roccato, double bass soloist and composer, has often been acclaimed as one of the major double bass virtuosos by international critics.
Through his transcriptions, his performances of contemporary repertoire and promotion of new music, Daniele has dedicated much effort to enhance the double bass as a solo instrument since his teenage years.
Among his many transcriptions, worth-mentioning are the ones approved by Sofia Gubaidulina and Hans Werner Henze, forthcoming for Schott edition.
Together with Stefano Scodanibbio, he created “Ludus Gravis”, an ensemble of double basses. As the soloist and conductor of this group, he has performed in some of the most renowned festivals of contemporary music.
As a composer, arranger and performer he collaborates with writer, playwright and actor Vitaliano Trevisan. Their prolific partnership led to the production of the works Solo et Pensoso, Time Works, Note sui Sillabari, Madre con Cuscino, Campo Marzo 9/10, Burroughs in Cage.
Together with composer, producer and pianist Beppe D'Onghia, Daniele brought the double bass as a solo instrument into pop music. In this field, worth mentioning are his trio projects with Lucio Dalla and Roberto Vecchioni, where he once played before eight million viewers on RaiUno.
With composer Luigi Ceccarelli (live electronics), he gave life to “Strangely Enough” (produced by the Dansens Hus, Oslo) and “X-Traces”.
Other projects involve Daniele's interaction with eminent personalities from the world of dance, theatre and the visual arts.
He premiered and made the first recording of compositions, among others, by Edgar Alandia, Julio Estrada, S. Gubaidulina, H. W. Henze and Stefano Scodanibbio.
In the field of extemporary creation he has improvised with Terry Riley, Vinko Globokar, Butch Morris, Virgilio Sieni, Thollem McDonas, Mike Svoboda.
Professor of double bass at the Conservatory of “Santa Cecilia” in Rome, he is often invited to hold seminars in prestigious musical institutions and Universities, among which Conservatoire National Supérieur (Paris), Universitat der Kunste (Berlin), San Francisco State University, Norwegian Academy of Music (Oslo), Ca’ Foscari University (Venice) UNAMM (Mexico City) UNEAC (Havana).
Daniele has recorded for Wergo, Sony, Velut Luna, On Classical.
The prestigious Wergo label has just released his CD dedicated to the works for double bass by Sofia Gubaidulina.
Several of his concerts were broadcast by Rai RadioTre and Sky ARTE.
He often participates as a jury member in international competitions.
He was born in Adria (Italy) in 1969 and currently lives in Rome.