“Music is worth
all the philosophies
of the world”

Roberto Palermo is an accordionist who began his musical journey at the age of eleven at the Centro Didattico Musicale Italiano in San Vincenzo La Costa (Cosenza), under the guidance of Maestro Lucio Cortese. From an early age, he distinguished himself in national and international competitions, achieving excellent results.

Over time, his curiosity and passion for improvisation led him to explore jazz, collaborating with the Imperfect Jazz Quartet and studying at the “Voglia d’Arte” Institute in Roseto degli Abruzzi with Maestro Renzo Ruggieri. Since then, he has deepened his understanding of the accordion as an artistic instrument, exploring its expressive and tonal potential.

His musical education has been enriched by masterclasses with some of the world’s greatest accordionists, including Richard Galliano, Frédéric Deschamps, and Renzo Ruggieri.

Roberto performs actively across Europe, blending Mediterranean tradition with contemporary influences and creating a personal, authentic musical language.

His latest project, “MediterrAnima”, is an album for accordion and string quintet that tells the story of his deep connection to his roots and the inner journey of a southern musician. In MediterrAnima, the accordion becomes the voice of the soul warm, intimate, and universal.

THEATER EXPERIENCE

2003

• “Nudo ad occhi chiusi”
  Teatro Valle and Teatro dell’Orologio, Rome
  Life of Amedeo Modigliani.
• “Intermittenze”
  Teatro dell’Orologio and Alpheus, Rome
  Experimental theatre piece focused on the themes of instability, memory, and fragmented identity.

2004

• “Salomè”
  Teatro dell’Orologio, Rome
  A bold new interpretation of the classic tale, enhanced by an intense and seductive musical language.
• “La questione G”
  Teatro Cometa Off, Rome
  A politically charged, satirical play with an ironic and sharp original soundtrack.

2007

• “Fiori nel cielo”
  Teatro dell’Orologio, Rome
  A poetic narrative about loss and hope, supported by an evocative musical score.
• “Colette, ma chérie”
  Teatro Argot, Rome
  A theatrical portrait of writer Colette, enriched by delicate, French-inspired music.
• “Tra tanta gente”
  Teatro della Versiliana, Marina di Pietrasanta
  A tribute to Luigi Tenco.

2008

• “Animalaria”
  Performed in multiple venues and festivals:
• Notte Bianca – III Municipio, Villa Massimo
• Festival Roma Estate
• Simposio
• Lettere Caffè, Rome
  A multi-location performance with live and electroacoustic soundscapes inspired by the animal world.

2010

• “I quaderni dell’usignolo” (The Nightingale’s Notebooks – Édith Piaf’s Secret Diary)
  Teatro Argot, Rome
  A musical and theatrical tribute to the life and soul of Édith Piaf.
• “Doll is mine”
• Primavera dei Teatri Festival, Castrovillari (CS)
• Lettere Caffè, Rome
  A surreal and minimalist performance with an intense and haunting sound design.
• “Sofronia contro Rasputin”
  Teatro I Giardini della Filarmonica, Rome
  A symbolic confrontation of inner worlds, supported by music shifting between the grotesque and the dramatic.

2011

• “Emporium” – A Poem of Civil Indignation
  Seminteatro, Rome
  Original score for a poetic and socially critical theatrical piece.
• “Stasera alle 21”
  Teatro Anfitrione, Rome
  A meta-theatrical comedy reflecting on time, audience expectations, and the unpredictability of performance.
• “Quello che prende gli schiaffi” (He Who Gets Slapped)
  Italian Tour 2011–2013
  Based on Leonid Andreyev’s drama, this touring production featured live music underscoring the psychological complexity of the characters.

From 2015

• “Hakkebakkeskogen”
  (The Hakkebakke Forest)
  Ongoing production since 2015
  A musical adaptation of the beloved Norwegian children’s classic by Thorbjørn Egner. Regular performances as musician and actor.

2019

• “Piken med svovelstikkene”
  (The Little Match Girl)
  A dreamlike and melancholic original score for a theatrical reinterpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless tale.

CINEMA EXPERIENCE

2006

• “Cenere eri” (Short Film)
  Directed by Daniele Grassetti – Written by Fabrizio Vecchi
  Cast: Remo Remotti, Anna Ammirati, Alessio Caruso
  I composed and performed the original piece “Magara”, featured in the film’s soundtrack.
  The film was broadcast on the Italian TV channel LA7 as part of the program “La 25a ora”.
  It received several accolades:
• Flabby Face Prize, Cortocittà Festival, Udine
• Best Actor Award (Riccardo Cavallo), Videoclip Festival, Turin
• Official Selection at Circuito Off – Venice International Short Film Festival (2007)

2007

• “Tentativi d’amore” (Short Film)
  Directed by Gianni Leonetti
  I recorded soundtrack material for this romantic and introspective short film.

2008

• “Piede di Dio” (Feature Film)
  Directed by Luigi Sardiello – Music by Andrea Terrinoni
  I contributed to the soundtrack recording of this debut feature, which blends drama and mysticism.
• TOD’S Commercial (Italy)
  Directed by Dennis Hopper – Starring Gwyneth Paltrow
  I appeared as a performer in this high-profile commercial for the luxury brand TOD’S, combining Italian elegance with international cinema aesthetics.