His expressive resources are the element more often underlined by the critique, a review of the Spanish newspaper ” El correro de Andalucia ” defined ” extraordinary and magical ” his touch capability.
At the age of five he gets started his piano studies under the guidance of the elderly Maestro Michele Corona. He makes his debut very early in a public concert at the Teatro Van Westerhout in his native town at the presence of Nino Rota, who urges him to continue his studies at the conservatory N. Piccinni of Bari which he directed. That is where he takes his diploma in a very young age with full marks and with honours. Afterwards, he completes his education as a student of M. Marvulli, P.Camicia, N. Magaloff, R. Caporali, S.Cafaro and A. Ciccolini for the piano, R. Gervasio for composition and N. Samale for conducting.
During his tours as a pianist, he has given concerts – solo recitals, with orchestra and with chamber groups – in Italy, France, Russia, Greece, Spain, Hungry, Check Republic, Poland, the United States, in various theatres and institutions among which: Composers’ Union of Moscow, Radio and Television Orchestra of Minsk, International Festival of Belorussia, International Festival of Seville, Teatro Maestranza of Seville, Sala Sinopoli of the Nuovo Auditorium in Rome, Rivista delle Nazioni di Roma, Teatro Ghione in Rome, Festival della Valle D’Itria, Camerata Musicale of Bari, Orchestra regionale del Molise, Teatro del circolo lirico of Bologna, Università dell’Arca Vacata of Cosenza, Parnassos hall of Athens, University of Ann Arbor, University of Toledo, Arts Academy of InterLooken, University of Musik of Szeged , Conservatory of Musik of Szeged , Oszi Festival (Hu ), Mazerik University of Brno ( Check republic ), “Suona italiano Festival” at Conservatoire de Gravenchon (France )
He is currently professor of piano at the Conservatorio di musica Santa Cecilia in Rome ( Italy), holds Master classes at the Conservatorio Ellenikos of Athens, at the A.Ciccolini Academy and several european universities.
He collaborated with singers, instrumental performers and conductors as Sandro Massimini, Luciana Serra, Giorgia Tomassi, Anatoly Soulimanov, Claudio Micheli, Giorgio Proietti, Alberto Martelli. F.Albanese.
For the Belorussian broadcasting corporation he recorded Mozart’s concerto 488 with the Radio and Television Orchestra of Minsk. Furthermore, he has made recordings for Rai Radio Tre and channel one of Rai Television along with the singer Sandro Massimini.
In 1994 he recorded piano music by N. Rota and A. Ginastera for Kicco Classic Records. The resulting CD received excellent reviews in specialized magazines such as” Piano Time” and “Amadeus”, was played in radio broadcasts on Rai Radio Tre and presented in the 1995 catalogue of the Fonit Cetra Classic .
In 1979 he made his debut as a composer with the operetta “E’ arrivata la fortuna” on a text by V. Maurogiovanni, broadcasted on Rai Radio Tre.
For Bajka Music he has recorded and published numerous compositions including: “Poemetto Lirico” for voice and orchestra on a poem by the poet Mario Luzi, “Liriche su Petrarca” for voice and piano, “Rimembranza” for guitar, “Le figlie di Acheloo” for voice and instrumental trio (whose première performance took place in 1999, on the occasion of the closing concert at the festival “compositori di oggi” promoted by the Rivista delle Nazioni along with the Lazio Region), “Un prezioso scatolino” for chorus and orchestra, on a text by Bianca Fo (commissioned by AMLAS for the second festival of boys’ choirs “Ugo Ventura”).
In 2000 he obtained the title of “Most distinguished artist composer” at the international festival “Ibla Grand Prize”.
He is the author of numerous transcriptions for piano including a paraphrase for concert on themes by N. Rota, performed at the “Festival de la música cinematográfica y escénica” of Seville.
After debuting as a conductor at a young age with the operetta “Zurika” by R.Corona at the Teatro Van Westerhout in Mola di Bari, over the past few years he has taken up his conducting activities, just occasionally, side by side the piano performer one .
He made his debut in the opera repertoire with G. Verdi’s “La Traviata”. In December 2003 he was invited to inaugurate the concert season of the “Nuova orchestra Lucana”. In January 2004, in the Basilica di S. Maria degli Angeli in Rome, he conducted the closing concert of the traditional Christmas event “Grande musica in chiesa” featuring the solo singer Luciana Serra.
They have written about him:
From “Toscana oggi” ………Battista lavished admirable emotions by combining technical mastery with a wide range of expressive outcomes.
From “La Gazzetta del mezzogiorno” ………..Battista plays with an exemplary mastery of the keyboard, but essentially with a great clarity of ideas and that is to say with a musical nature which knows how to orient itself aided by reason.
From “ABC” ……the pianist M. Battista’s touch possesses a nuanced timbre, a smooth and light phrasing…
From “Correro de Andalusia” …..the pianist showed from the very first moment an extraordinary gift, a magical sound ,perfectly belanced on the acoustics of the Teatro Maestranza..
From “Piano Time” ……….the sonata op. 22,by Ginastera, fiery in an Argentinean way, rendered with impetus, remarkable empathy and undeniable rhythmic drive in the finale……
From “Amadeus” ……….in the preludes by Rota Battista provides an interpretation that is far from monotonous. The episodes are shaped with vivacity but without affectation. Thus no empty virtuosity, but rather a conscious assimilation of Rota’s language.
From “Corriere del Molise” ………….Chopin, ballad in G minor, a piece in which the pianist’s virtuosity and particular sensitivity emerged….
From “La nuova Basilicata” ……..Ardour and detailed conducting technique revealed by the maestro Michele F. Battista….a meaningful and lyrical rendition of Ouverture.by Handel
From “Il corriere del Molise” ………….At Teatro Savoia, success of the pianist Michele Francesco Battista with S. Rachmaninoff’s Concerto no.2 …….An artist with exquisite sensitivity who is able to fascinate the audience.
From “La nuova Basilicata” …….The 30 musicians and the conductor Battista ravish and enchant the audience…..
From “Nuovo Molise” ……The Concert Season opened with a splendid performance by the pianist Michele Battista in J. Brahms’s second concerto for piano and orchestra, ..extraordinary technique, full mastery of the keyboard, great musicality and a refined touch.