Mario Rahi Biography

Born in Lebanon in 1983, Mario Rahi started the violin at a very young age. He pursued his diploma studies at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Rome with Maestro Claudio Cornoldi. In 2011, Mario Rahi was awarded his master’s degree, with the maximum vote from the Accademia Nazionale Santa Cecilia with Prof. Domenico Nordio and Sonig Tchakerian.

During his studies, Mario attended several master classes for solo, chamber and orchestral music with renowned professors such as Salvatore Accardo at the Accademia Chigiana of Siena. He was appointed concert master at the World Youth Orchestra from 2001 until 2010, and performed with famous and reputed Italian artists such as Bruno Giuranna (chamber music) and Stefano Montanari (Baroque music). Later on, Mario was admitted to the Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra, established by the legendary film-music composer Ennio Morricone. 

Back to Lebanon at the age of 28, Mario has been part of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra since 2011. He is currently a violin teacher at the Lebanese National Conservatory of Music. He also contributed to the development of the “Conservatory Youth Orchestra” that he has been coaching with great passion and dedication until today. Mario appeared several times as soloist and concertmaster with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra performing concertos by Mozart, Saint-Saëns and Hakim. He is often invited to perform in many festivals in Lebanon and abroad especially in Italy.  Mario reserves particular interest in promoting Lebanese classical music, some of the compositions was dedicated to him such as Iyad kanaan’s violin sonata and Naji Hakim’s variations on a minuet by J.S Bach. 

Fabio Centanni

Fabio Centanni is one of the internationally most sought-after collaborative pianists in Italian Opera and Instrumental music.

Since 2006 he has closely collaborated alongside with Renata Scotto at the Opera Studio of Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia where he has performed in numerous concerts at the Auditorium Parco della Musica as well as internationally supported by the Italian Embassy. Mr. Centanni served as Korrepetitor for the International Opernstudio in Zurich, Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, Orchestra Sinfonica di Savona, Grand Théâtre de Genève. For Radio3 Programm “La Barcaccia” he accompanied Raina Kabaivanska, Katia Ricciarelli, Daniela Dessì, Fabio Armiliato, Amarilli Nizza, and Roberto de Candia. In 2008 he served as accompanist for Natalie Dessay while preparing La Traviata with Renata Scotto. 

He held Masterclasses at the “Estudio Voce” School in Rio de Janeiro (5 times, 2011-2013), at the Conservatoire National Supèrieur in Beyrouth, Lebanon  (November 2013, February 2014) and at the Conservatorio of  Verona organized by th Sydney Conservatorium of Music. 

From January 2013 he is the pianist of  Bernadette Manca di Nissa at the Conservatorio “G. P.  da Palestrina” in Cagliari.

His expertise is not limited to opera but encompasses a wide-variety of instrumental and chamber music. Mr. Centanni regularly works with leading performers and experts in instrumental music at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia including Jacques Mauger (trombone), Carlo Tamponi (flute), Gabriele Cassone (trumpet), Guido Corti (horn), Andrea Lucchi (trumpet), Giovanni Bossone (fagott), Andrea Oliva (flute)  and once at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Rome with Illya Grubert (violin).  

Mr. Centanni received his Bachelor of Music with full honors from Santa Cecilia Conservatorio and both Specialization in Chamber Music and Piano from Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. His Post-Graduate Studies include the course of musical interpretation at Accademia Chigiana,  Accademia “Incontri col Maestro” in Imola, Sommerakademie “Mozarteum” in Salzburg, and participation in the Master Class with Pavel Gliliov at Accademia Musicale Pescarese. 

Recognition and honors include the First Prize Winner the 2nd Concorso di Terzo d’ Acqui (Alessandria) and 10th Concorso pianistico “ Città di Velletri”, Third Prize winner of Città di Sulmona” and the Critics’ Prize in the 38th Concorso pianistico “A.Speranza”.

Recent engagements as a collaborative pianist include the International Festival in Verbier (CH) from July 2009 until July 2012 where he accompanied  Opera Masterclasses held by Claudio Desderi (2009), and Nelly Miricioiu (2010) , the International Violin Competition “Città di Brescia” in October 2010, the International Violin Competition “A. Postacchini” in May 2012, in May 2013 and in June 2014 .

2011-2012  he was the pianist of  Sonig Tchakerian  in her Master Course in Violin  held at  the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

Mr. Centanni is fluent in German, English, Portugues and his native Italian.