Leandro Piccioni

In 1989, Leandro Piccioni met a great artist: Carmelo Bene. One of the greatest artists of twentieth century theatre, he was a highly cultured, emblematic figure, an often provoking and “difficult” actor-author-director.


“I believe Carmelo was intrinsically an extraordinary musician as well. His acting, with its inflections, dynamics and rhythm, took on the quality of song, melody, and counterpoint, becoming an orchestral solo. The microphone acted as his instrument, which he dexterously changed to suit his tone-colour variations. His great passion for Verdi, Bizet, Donizetti, Bellini, and Mahler (composers often recurring in passages of his works) formed a link between himself and the musicians he worked with, including myself.”


Leandro Piccioni worked with Carmelo Bene for the Venice Art Exposition (Biennale di Venezia), working with composer Lorenzo Ferrero and percussionist Antonio Striano.
He also worked with Bene on the Achilleide Project, Pentesilea, (performed in 1990 at Teatro Olimpico in Rome) and in Macbeth.