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This story is about Italian, brilliant workaholic, composer, arranger, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Luca Turilli (born 5 March 1972) he is constantly engaged in various musical projects. Next to his work with Rhapsody of Fire he had as well his solo projects, like Luca Turilli, or the Luca Turilli band, Luca Turilli's DreamQuest, Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, Turilli / Lione Rhapsody, and his latest project, the piano-album, Earthrise.

Having always declared to love music at 360 degrees, Luca has dedicated himself to multiple musical genres, ranging from Trance and Electronic music, of his first compositions to Symphonic metal inspired by the world of soundtracks and also to modern Pop and piano compositions of his current productions.

He is one of the founders of the Symphonic power metal band Rhapsody, later called Rhapsody of Fire. The band for which he composed and arranged all music with his colleague Alex Staropoli from 1997 until the friendly split of 2011. After 2011 he released three more albums under the name Luca Turilli's Rhapsody and one under the name Turilli / Lione Rhapsody.

In the early 2000s he also worked on a trilogy of solo albums as Luca Turilli, and released one album under the name of Luca Turilli's Dreamquest, a Symphonic metal / Rock project combined with Electro pop elements he worked on alongside Dominique Leurquin.

Though his lyrics in Rhapsody of Fire dealt with epic, sword and sorcery high fantasy, namely a saga of his own design, the lyrics of his later albums speak mainly about sciencemetaphysicspsychologyanthropology and are generally related with the mysteries of life. Luca's greatest passion after what he started experiencing thanks to his long-term yoga and meditation practices.

In 2020, with the piano being one of his favorite instruments, he also announced his entry into the market of modern, emotional and cinematic piano with the release of his debut piano album, in the tradition of artists like Yann TiersenLudovico Einaudi and Yiruma, some of the well-known piano composers of our time and a true inspiration to him, underlining his need for continuous artistic challenges and the need to express himself at 360 degrees.

Early life

Luca Turilli was born in TriesteVenezia Giulia. His father was a cello player who passed away when Luca was only two years old. He inherited his passion for Classical music and at 16 years old he started playing guitar. In 1993, Luca survived cancer at age 21. At the age of 22, he started playing piano.

Career

In 1993, Luca founded the band Thundercross, which was renamed Rhapsody after releasing the first demo, and renamed once again to                      Rhapsody of Fire for trademark reasons in 2006.

In 2008, Luca began an online guitar course titled Luca Turilli's Neoclassical Revelation. The course takes its name from his neoclassical playing style.

In August 2011, some time after releasing the last album related with the heroic-fantasy saga on which all the lyrics and music of Rhapsody / Rhapsody of Fire were based until then, Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli proceeded to a friendly split. Alex agreed to go on as Rhapsody of Fire, while Luca decided to move on as Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, adding his name on top of the logo because of trademark reasons and old legal settlements. In 2015, after releasing the debut album entitled Ascending to Infinity, the record company Nuclear Blast released the one defined by Luca as one of the most important albums of his career: Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus. One year later the same album was released under the title "Prometheus, The Dolby Atmos Experience + Cinematic and Live". That album, mixed by producer/mixing engineer Chris Heil,         (David BowieBryan Adams), was the first one in music history to be mixed in Dolby Atmos and its music was used by Dolby and Yamaha to promote Dolby Atmos technology worldwide.

From November 2016 to March 2018, Luca and his former bandmates Fabio Lione and Alex Holzwarth who in the meantime had also left Rhapsody of Fire, gathered to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary by playing their entire best-selling album Symphony of Enchanted Lands in a tour called the 20th Anniversary Farewell Tour. After the end of the Farewell Tour, the initial intention was to close the Rhapsody chapter once and for all. We can say that the promoters and the fans, considering the success of that tour, basically convinced Luca and Fabio to go on with Rhapsody, although both had different artistic plans in mind. For legal reasons the new band was called Turilli / Lione Rhapsody. Both agreed to such plan and to use the same band name only if they could bring something really new to the table, combining their typical Symphonic metal approach with all the modern music they like to listen to nowadays, evolving the sound, the image and the lyrical concept of the band to new horizons. To make this more than clear they agreed to entitle the album Zero Gravity (Rebirth and Evolution) and filled it with what they both love: vocal interludes à la Queen, Progressive elements à la Dream Theater, Electronic, Ethnic music and more. In both bands, Luca Turilli's Rhapsody and Turilli / Lione Rhapsody, Luca is the only composer of all music and lyrics, orchestral arrangements and in addition to guitars he also played all the keyboard parts.

In early 2020, Luca stated in an interview with Steinberg that he feels the constant need to evolve and explore the world of music by creating new projects, finding new artistic goals and stimulations. That he was working on the debut album of his new band presenting a modern Pop/rock sound in the style of some of his actual favorite artists like Adele and bands like Muse and Imagine Dragons, enriched by Electronic, Ethnic music and all those Symphonic elements which are now a real trademark in his discography.

Playing style

Early in his career Luca was influenced by guitarists such as Yngwie MalmsteenTony MacAlpineMarty Friedman and especially Jason Becker, still considered by him today as the greatest guitarist ever. His lead playing often includes extensive use of sweep picked arpeggios, tremolo picking, classically influenced phrases, and scales such as Aeolianharmonic minor, Phrygian, Locrian, and melodic minor. In his latest albums he introduced new ethnic elements too (Hirajōshi and Pentatonic scales).

As a pianist his main influences are romantic pianists like Frédéric Chopin and contemporary composers such as Ludovico EinaudiYann TiersenYiruma and Philip Glass.

Gear

Home studio

To compose and arrange his music, Luca uses a template of over 6,000 tracks based on the Steinberg's Cubase software. He is using one main computer based on an Intel Xeon double processor and two additional "slave" PCs for a total of 256 GB of RAM. All template sounds are located on a total of 8 SSDs. Vienna Ensemble Pro is the additional software he is using for Cubase to "communicate" with the sounds located on the main PC and the two slaves. It took seven years of work in collaboration with Tobias Escher (Novatlan Studio / Orchestral Tools) for Luca to have a universal template available allowing him to compose for most music styles and different music projects. Using the same template, he can now compose for all styles of Pop, Rock, Metal, Symphonic, Folk, Ambient, Trance, Electronic, Hip-hop or Trap music

Guitars

Luca uses custom "Luca Turilli" electric guitars made by the French Luthier, Christophe Capelli. He has four of them (black, white, blue and red) being part of the first series (Neoclassical Revelation Series) and three of them (black, white and red) being part of the new "Neoclassical revelation 2.0" Series.

His new signature guitars feature a DiMarzio Tone Zone pickup in the bridge position and DiMarzio Air Norton in the neck position. They also feature maple necks, 22 Fret ebony fingerboards with a custom "Tree of Life" inlay and Ibanez Lo-Pro Edge tremolo systems. The wood used for the body is Alder.

Luca uses Furch and Gibson acoustic guitars.

Pianos

Turilli owns Kawai and Schulze Pollmann pianos.

The Luca Turilli band

Luca Turilli (also referred to as The Luca Turilli Band) was Luca's self-named German Symphonic power metal musical project, originally assembled in 1999.

The band was founded by Luca, he made this project besides his work in Rhapsody, with the intention of combining the typical sound of orchestral and Symphonic metal with modern arrangements and the frequent use of Synthesizers. Luca had the goal of making a trilogy by creating a first album based on the past, (King of the Nordic Twilight) one on the future, (Prophet of the Last Eclipse) and a third on the present time.                     (The Infinite Wonders of Creation) From a lyrical point of view, the three albums were connected by the typical positive and deeply spiritual message of Luca, praising the miracle of life and creation.

Rhapsody's then-producers, Sascha Paeth and Miro, were hired to do the same job and also to provide bass and additional keyboard duties, respectively (Luca composed the keyboard parts for the album but preferred to have a proper keyboardist on stage). Robert Hunecke-Rizzo, who had helped Rhapsody out as a session musician in the past, was hired as the drummer, and Olaf Hayer, an established German vocalist completed the band.

On the second album, Luca performed lead guitar and part of the keyboards, with Robert Hunecke-Rizzo also performing rhythm parts. For the third album, Luca performed all keyboards himself and Miro was not utilised. On the album, Bridget Fogle, (Mystique) a choir vocalist who had previously worked with Rhapsody and various other metal bands, was used as a co-lead vocalist with Olaf Hayer.

With the release of the third and final album of the trilogy, the band's activity was concluded as planned from the beginning.

Luca Turilli's Dreamquest

Dreamquest, also known as Luca Turilli's Dreamquest, was a Symphonic electro metal band led by Luca. He created the band wanting to propose a style of modern metal combined with the genres he loved the most: Pop, Electronic and Symphonic music. He wrote the lyrics, composed and arranged all the music. For the first time he only presented himself as keyboard player of the band while the guitar parts were handled by Rhapsody of Fire member, Dominique Leurquin.

The music of the band combines powerful Metal instrumentation with angelic, operatic, female vocals, modern synths and orchestral elements to create a sound that might best be described as 'symphonic electro pop/metal'. The lyrics are about spirituality and deep inner research, linked in someway to the mystic world of dreams. The identity of the vocalist, credited only as "Myst", was still in question. Fans have speculated Mystique's identity to be Bridget Fogle, who contributed to Luca's 3rd album The Infinite Wonders of Creation, but as of 2020, this has not been confirmed.  On August 28, 2021, in his official YouTube channel, Luca posted a song from the album Lost Horizons called "Energy", where in the description of the video, he reveals that the vocalist named "Myst" or "Mystique" was none other than the Bridget Fogle herself, who contributed to the album  The Infinite Wonders of Creation in 2006.

Shortly after the release of Lost Horizons, Luca began work on a second Dreamquest album. In December 2006, it was reported that only the mixing was left to be completed. In 2011, however, Luca ended work on all his various projects to concentrate on the newly formed,                          Luca Turilli's Rhapsody.

Luca Turilli's Rhapsody

Luca Turilli's Rhapsody (often simply referred by itself as Rhapsody, LT's Rhapsody or Turilli's Rhapsody) was an Italian Symphonic power metal  band created and led by Luca after his split from Rhapsody of Fire, also including GermanFrench and Finnish members. The band members referred their style as "Cinematic metal" to underline Luca's passion for the world of cinema and the soundtracks, yet the main influence of his new artistic work.

In 2011, Rhapsody of Fire announced its friendly split into two Rhapsody bands: Alex Staropoli and Fabio Lione decided to go on as Rhapsody of Fire while Luca, along with bassist Patrice Guers and session guitarist Dominique Leurquin decided to move on as Luca Turilli's Rhapsody.        The band's first line-up also included singer Alessandro Conti and Rhapsody of Fire drummer Alex Holzwarth, who was then a member of both bands. However, in 2012 Alex Holzwarth left due to the impossibility to be fully in both bands, and was replaced by Alex Landenburg.                    Their first album, Ascending to Infinity, was released in 2012 and is referred to as their own "Rhapsody's 11th album". Their second and final album, Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus, was released in 2015.

From April 2017 to March 2018, Luca Turilli, Dominique Leurquin, Patrice Guers, Alex Holzwarth, and former Rhapsody of Fire vocalist          Fabio Lione toured together for the 20th Anniversary Farewell Tour, with the band called Rhapsody Reunion, playing the music of the original band; in June 2018, Luca confirmed that the band was inactive, and the following December announced that the 20th Anniversary Farewell Tour line-up now formed a new band, named Turilli / Lione Rhapsody.

On August 16, 2011, Rhapsody of Fire announced the friendly departure of long-time guitarist, songwriter, and founding member Luca Turilli and bassist Patrice Guers. Following his departure, Luca founded his new Rhapsody band, Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, with Patrice Guers, his friend and former Rhapsody of Fire session and live guitarist Dominique Leurquin, an unspecified new lead singer and Rhapsody of Fire drummer,                 Alex Holzwarth who became a member of both bands. On January 30, 2012, the band announced their first album, Ascending to Infinity.

On March 30, 2012, the band finally revealed their new singer, Alessandro Conti. In 2012, Alex Holzwarth left the band due to the impossibility to be fully in both bands. Following his departure, the band announced the new drummer, former AnnihilatorAxxis and Stratovarius member Alex Landenburg.

On May 22, 2012, the first single from the upcoming album Ascending to Infinity, titled "Dark Fate of Atlantis" was released with a music video. On June 22, 2012, the new album was released. The band then started its "Cinematic World Tour".

On October 8, 2012, the band revealed that Dominique Leurquin seriously injured his left hand with a circular saw, almost losing it: "After the complicated surgery and everyone around thinking it will be difficult for Dominique to play his beloved instrument once again, the doctors spent some more optimistic words to describe the situation, speaking about a long period of rehabilitation and some major problems eventually related to the thumb only. Therefore it seems there will be again the possibility for Dominique to play a guitar, and maybe sooner than what can be expected." The injury made it impossible for Dominique to be a part of the band for almost two years; instead of replacing him with another guitarist for the upcoming Ascending to Infinity Tour, Luca arranged all the songs to add Dominique's parts on the backing tracks at lower volume. His return was eventually announced on August 9, 2014, with the band's concert at the Made of Metal Festival on August 15 being his first show with the band.

On 23 March 2015, Nuclear Blast announced Prometheus: Symphonia Ignis Divinus for release on June 19 in the EU, June 22 in the UK and June 30 in the US. The following year after release, they went on their world tour starting in Europe in early 2016. They co-headlined with Primal Fear in North America and South America in support of the album.

On September 30, the band announced on the website and Facebook that they would release their new album remixed in Dolby Atmos and on Blu-Ray with two live CDs from performances they had played on their Ascending to Infinity Tour and Prometheus Cinematic World Tour.                      It was released on December 9, 2016.

On June 20, 2018, Luca had announced on the band's official Facebook page that the band would be going on an indefinite hiatus, due to the other members' commitments to other musical projects, such as vocalist Alessandro Conti who was announced as the new vocalist for Swedish Symphonic power metal band Twilight Force earlier that month and drummer Alex Landenburg who was later confirmed as the new drummer for the American Power metal band Kamelot on April 10, 2019.

Old Rhapsody of Fire members, Luca Turilli, Fabio Lione, Dominique Leurquin, Patrice Guers, and Alex Holzwarth started the new band,             Turilli / Lione Rhapsody in 2018. They released one studio album, Zero Gravity (Rebirth and Evolution), that was released on july 5, 2019 via Nuclear Blast.

Luca Turilli debuts in the modern piano market with the album Earthrise

The release of the first piano album intitled "Earthrise" is currently scheduled for 2021 and will mark Luca's official entry into the modern and emotional piano market.

"Earthrise" will be anticipated by some singles and related videos including Luca's piano performance.

Through his piano activity, Luca will present the original piano playing style he developed in recent years which could be defined as "hybrid" due to the fact it was influenced by his guitar playing too. As his influences - besides the greatest romantic and late-romantic composers, he also cites contemporary artists such as Ludovico Einaudi, Yann Tiersen and Yiruma.

Titles like "Earthrise", "Asia", "Murmure Du Printemps", "Trying To Remember", "Oceano In Tempesta", "Fontana Di Trevi"  and many others, will present the extreme range of colors and variety of dynamics in Luca's piano creations.

Some tracks will rely on piano exclusively while others will include some additional acoustic instruments too. The album will also include a few re-arranged covers, while some additional titles will represent the original piano compositions from which Luca extracted some parts that were already used for a few of his recent bands and projects.

Luca Turilli explains: "For me, this is the realization of a true artistic dream. At this point of my life, feeling the need to explore the most intimate aspects of human nature and that complex emotional journey towards the essence of life beyond the shape of all things, the piano is my best companion and the perfect modern story-teller. That's why the release of my debut album "Earthrise" will also coincide with the beginning of a constant online activity dedicated to my beloved instrument. No metronome, no rules... just closed eyes, the ivory keys at the service of heart and soul and the deepest flow of emotions for a welcomed and inspiring shift of consciousness."

To discover more about Luca's piano activity and to see the titles of "Earthrise" performed by him, Luca's first official Youtube channel will be soon launched. Stay safe and tuned for further news!

Entrevista a Luca Turilli: un compositor debe satisfacer su corazon y alma

All Languages Luca Turilli


Languages Luca Turilli band


Luca Turilli's DreamQuest


Luca Turilli´s Rhapsody


Luca Turilli

Albums

King of the Nordic Twilight (1999)

Prophet of the Last Eclipse (2002)

The Infinite Wonders of Creation (2006)


Last Line-up

Olaf Hayer - lead vocals (1999-2011)

Luca Turilli - guitars (1999-2011), keyboards  (2005-2011)

Sascha Paeth - bass (1999-2011)

Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - drums (1999-2011)


Former members

Miro - keyboards (1999–2005)

Bridget Fogle - female lead vocals (2005-2007

Luca Turilli's Dreamquest

Album

Lost Horizons (2006)


Members

"Mystique" (Bridget Fogle) - Vocals

Dominique Leurquin - Guitar

Luca Turilli - Keyboard

Sascha Paeth - Bass

Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - Drums

Luca Turilli's Rhapsody

Albums

Ascending to Infinity (2012)

Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus (2015)

Prometheus - The Dolby ATMOS Experience + Cinematic and Live (2016) live


Last Line-up

Alessandro Conti - lead vocals   (2011–2018)

Luca Turilli - lead and rhythm guitarkeyboards (2011–2018)

Dominique Leurquin - lead and rhythm guitar  (2011–2018)

Patrice Guers - bass (2011–2018)

Alex Landenburg - drums (2012–2018)


Live members

Mikko Härkin - keyboards (2012–2018)


Former members

Alex Holzwarth - drums (2011–2012)










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