Aureliano Cattaneo studied piano and composition at the conservatories of Milano and Piacenza.

His music is regularly performed at renowned festivals and concert halls.

His works have been played by ensembles and orchestras such as SWR Sinfonie Orchester, Klangforum Wien, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble musikFabrik, Quatuor Diotima, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Ensemble Contrechamps, Trio Accanto, Ensemble Alter Ego, or Espai Sonor; conducted by Emilio Pomarico, Sylvain Cambreling, Susanna Mällki, Stefan Asbury, Beat Furrer, Michael Wendeberg, Johannes Kalitzke, Enno Poppe, Lothar Zagrosek, Francois-Xavier Roth, and Voro Garcia.

One of his notable works is the chamber opera "La Philosophie dans le Labyrinthe" with a libretto by the poet Edoardo Sanguineti, premiered in 2006 at the "10. Münchener Biennale".

In 2013, he received the Salzburg Musikpreis for artistic merit.