Leonardo Barilaro collaborates with Tina Guo

Leonardo Barilaro is a man whose passions see the worlds of aerospace engineering and music collide in extraordinary ways. A Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at MCAST in Malta, Leonardo dedicates much of his professional life to exploring the mysteries of space. Beyond his academic pursuits, he’s a celebrated pianist and composer whose fascination with the cosmos fuels his innovative artistic vision.

His ultimate dream? To become the first person to perform a piano concert on Mars, a goal that reflects his limitless ambition. Though that Martian milestone remains on the horizon, his music has already made it to space; in an extraordinary feat, his compositions have been carried by astronauts to the stars and transmitted back to Earth, linking terrestrial and extraterrestrial audiences.

Throughout 2022, Leonardo released a new piece of piano music every single day, showcasing a staggering level of discipline and prolific creative output. Adding another cosmic achievement to his repertoire, he’s currently leading the ASTROBEAT space mission, a groundbreaking initiative aboard the International Space Station that brings together music and space exploration. As part of this project, he’s also penned a book, Music from Space, chronicling his journey and the profound intersections of his music with the cosmos.

In his latest musical endeavour, Leonardo Barilaro brings us his recent single titled “Moon Seeds,” which was premiered during a historic live-streamed event from the International Space Station. Collaborating with Grammy-nominated cellist Tina Guo and revered composer Steve Mazzaro, “Moon Seeds” represents the soundtrack of the ASTROBEAT mission and connected audiences across the globe in a virtual concert hall that spanned Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Houston, Italy and Malta.

Set up with the soft swell of spacey textures, Leonardo’s delicate piano notes are met with Tina’s warm cello tones as the two artists engage in a balletic dance of dazzling modern orchestral music. With fluttering piano runs and bold chords backed by the elegant stretch of cello, they craft a truly mesmeric and wholly enveloping soundscape that’s utterly beautiful and gripping in equal measure.

Building with the intensity of staccato stabs and sweeping atmosphere, “Moon Seeds” brings an incredible composition to life via sensational musicianship. As Leonardo Barilaro continues to break new ground as the artist at both the metaphorical and literal forefront of space music, we can’t wait to see where his pioneering voyage will take him next.

Listen to Moon Seeds below

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