Biography

Fabián dos Rios (b. 1994 in Dénia, Spain) is a Spanish-German pianist, composer, producer, and performer who blends contemporary neoclassical music with literary storytelling. His signature concept, Literature Meets Piano, merges intimate piano compositions with narrative leitmotifs from works such as The Alchemist, Le Petit Prince, and Sapiens, creating a cinematic and emotional concert experience.

Growing up along the Mediterranean coast, his musical world was shaped early on by his grandfather, a celebrated first violinist with the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra in the 1960s. Yet his artistic path took its first true spark in a completely different setting — soaring through the air at the age of seven during a performance at Circus Jonny Caselly, a renowned European circus theatre designed by his great uncle Dieter Drewes. This early immersion in movement, rhythm, and spectacle laid the foundation for his expressive artistry and stage presence long before the piano became his main voice.

In 2018, a return to Buenos Aires and a powerful moment at the family’s historic piano reignited his passion for composing. Soon after, he became the highest-winning artist in the history of Cologne’s Kunst gegen Bares, standing out among more than 700 shows.

Today, the crescendo of Fabián’s talent resonates globally, with over 2 million streams in a year and coverage in outlets such as Radio Clásica Española (RCE). His Literature Meets Piano concert series has reached audiences across Europe and beyond, including venues like the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, St. Johannis Harvestehude in Hamburg, Jardín de l’Albarda in Valencia, Fundación ACA in Mallorca, as well as stages in Mexico, Italy, and more.

Musical Identity

Together with his academic studies in literature at the University of Cologne, Fabián has developed an interdisciplinary approach in which narrative, modern classical piano and cinematic harmony are structurally interwoven. This perspective shapes a concert concept, where storytelling and composition are built around literary leitmotifs—musical symbols that mirror the emotional core of the books that inspire them and transform philosophical themes into intimate sound worlds.

Drawing inspiration from composers like Ólafur Arnalds, Jean-Michel Blais, Yann Tiersen, Hans Zimmer, Ludovico Einaudi and Nils Frahm, he has carved out a distinct place in the contemporary classical music scene, where his Mediterranean roots and multicultural background give his music a distinct warmth and nostalgic clarity. This blend has allowed him to carve out a unique place in the contemporary classical scene.

As his artistic journey evolves, he continues to create a space where profound simplicity meets wide emotional expression, inviting listeners into a deeply personal, cinematic voyage through sound and speech—each note carrying an emotional pulse rather than a technical function, much like a Van Gogh brushstroke revealing its energy.

Mission

Literature Meets Piano was born long before Fabián even realized it—during a challenging chapter of his life, when he moved to Germany and language barriers made speaking a source of fear. Literature had always been his passion, but his interpretations at school were considered illogical and “out of this world.” During that time, the piano became his new language to express his understanding of life and text.

From that moment, literature became a lighthouse. Works and stories like The Little Prince, The NeverEnding Story, and poems such as The Ocean And The River gradually guided new music, new concerts, and a new way to connect with audiences.

His mission today is clear: to create silent spaces in a distracted world—moments where you can dream and be free—leaving a lasting emotional imprint that resonates long after the final note.