Michele Marelli, who holds a major in clarinet with highest honors from the Conservatory of Alessandria under the guidance of Prof. Giacomo Soave, and a degree in Modern Literature from the University of Turin with a thesis on Stockhausen, is internationally known as one of the best contemporary music soloists of his generation. He furthered his studies in England with Alan Hacker, in Germany with Suzanne Stephens and in France with Alain Damiens.
As an 18-year-old he met Karlheinz Stockhausen, establishing a profound artistic relationship that lasted for more than a decade during which, chosen by the Maestro himself as soloist of his Ensemble, Marelli played World Premières under his instruction and guidance and recorded 3 CDs for the Stockhausen Complete Edition. Stockhausen himself led Marelli to devote himself to the basset horn. Marelli’s mastery of the instrument led Giorgio Gaslini to define him as one of its « leading performers”. “Very gifted” according to Stockhausen, “an absolute genius” according to Suzanne Stephens, he performs as a soloist in some of the most prestigious concert halls and radio programs in the world.
A six-time winner of the Prize of the Stockhausen Stiftung für Musik, other prestigious international prizes he has been awarded include the First Prize at the International Contemporary Chamber Music Competition in Krakow (2004), the Valentino Bucchi clarinet Competition in Rome (2007), the Honorary Logos Award in Belgium (2000), the Jeunesse Musicale auditions (2001), the DESONO association scholarship (from 2001 to 2005) and in 2006 the “Master dei Talenti Musicali” award from the Fondazione CRT. He is assistant to Suzanne Stephens at the Stockhausen Kurse Kürten.
The Stockhausen Foundation entrusted him to perform the World Première of Stockhausen’s UVERSA, 16. Stunde aus KLANG, for basset horn and electronic music during the MusikTriennale in Cologne, the last basset horn piece composed by the composer before his passing. His performance was later published by the Stockhausen Complete Edition.
For the label Stradivarius he published the CD HARLEKIN by Stockhausen, highly acclaimed by international critics and awarded a “5 Diapason” in France.
At the Donaueschinger Musiktage, with the Hilversum Orchestra conducted by Peter Eötvös, he performed the World Première of the « Let me sing into your ear » concerto for basset horn and orchestra by Marco Stroppa, which the composer actually dedicated to him and this performance was later recorded for the label Neos.
He has an intense schedule of concerts all over Europe and holds regular master classes and seminars on the interpretation of contemporary music at Italian and European Conservatories.
Since the age of 10 he has played on Vandoren reeds and mouthpieces and is currently an endorser for the French brand.