Luciano Sgrizzi was an Italian harpsichordist, organist, and composer born on October 30, 1910, in Bologna. He began piano studies at age 13 and graduated from the Parma Conservatory with degrees in composition, organ, and piano. Sgrizzi performed a concert tour of South America from 1924 to 1927. He relocated to Switzerland during World War II and worked as a pianist, organist, and literary critic for Swiss-Italian Radio until 1974. In 1946, he focused on the harpsichord and early music. His compositions included the musical pieces “Sinfonietta Rococo” (1956) and “Ostinati” (1958). In 1960, he began editing 17th- and 18th-century Italian music, including the work Sonates pour clavecin. His discography included the album Complete works for harpsichord by Domenico Scarlatti. Sgrizzi received seven Grand Prix du Disque awards. He was named Commendatore of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1980. Sgrizzi died on September 11, 1994.
