Federica artuso
guitarist
Bio
About me...
International renowned guitarist
on fine historical instruments
Guitarist and teacher, Federica Artuso specialises in researching and performing on historical high quality instruments. Her recordings, awarded by the international press and specialist magazines, are the result of innovative artistic projects.Her debut solo album with the opera omnia of the 19th century composer Emilia Giuliani received enthusiastic international acclaim. The album was named CD of the Week by Weta Classical-Washington (which dedicated a 7-day listening marathon to it) and Naxos Sweden; CD of the Month by Amadeus and DotGuitar; it was awarded 5 stars by the historic Italian magazine Musica, which published an interview with him on the occasion. The Spanish magazine Ritmo listed him among the reference recordings of 19th century guitar music. In Japan, it was named Editor's Choice by The Record Geijutsu, and Gendai Guitar published a special dossier about the disc.
Federica was interviewed by RAI Radio 1 about her work in rediscovering the female guitar repertoire, which she also conducts in collaboration with musicologist Nicoletta Confalone (Chitarra d'oro per la musicologia, 2014).
With luthier Fabio Zontini, she collaborates on a project on the Papier-Mâché guitar, a legendary instrument made by Andalusian luthier Antonio de Torres, considered the ‘Stradivarius of the six strings’. The project saw the release of a vinyl and a CD for the Velut Luna label with two copies of the Papier-Mâché guitar made by Zontini himself. To publicise the lost sound of this unique instrument in the history of violin making, Federica Artuso and Fabio Zontini devised a conference-concert that debuted at the National Museum of Musical Instruments in Rome and is now touring all over Italy.
During a concert at the National Museum of Musical Instruments in Rome with the Papier-Mâché guitar built by the luthier Fabio Zontini
As a chamber musician, Federica participated in the recording of a box set with several first recordings from the Villa-Lobos repertoire made for Naxos by guitarist Andrea Bissoli, with whom she has formed a duo since 2006. International music critics have praised her recordings (Diapason, BBC Music Magazine, Radio France, Folha de São Paulo, Musica) and, among other accolades, they include: Naxos CD of the month in Germany, CD of the week on Radio Cultura FM Brazil, CD of the month on Amadeus and on Seicorde.Federica was interviewed by RAI Radio 1 about her work in rediscovering the female guitar repertoire, which she also conducts in collaboration with musicologist Nicoletta Confalone (Chitarra d'oro per la musicologia, 2014).
With Andrea Bissoli at Theatre des Salons (Geneve)
Her training took place at the school of Maestro Stefano Grondona, with whom she obtained a Diploma in guitar and a Level II Academic Diploma, both with top marks, honours and special mention. Among her teachers he likes to remember, in addition to Grondona himself, Paul Galbraith, Laura Mondiello, Oscar Ghiglia and Andrea Dieci, as well as his youthful experiences as a scholarship holder at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena and at the Fondazione S. Cecilia in Brescia. In duo with guitarist Andrea Bissoli she has studied the ancient repertoire with Monica Huggett and Sigiswald Kuijken in Italy and Belgium. The ensemble performs 19th-century music on period instruments made by the French luthiers La Prevotte and Lacote (the same luthiers who made instruments for the 19th-century virtuosos Aguado and Sor).
With her first luthier guitar built by luthier Luca Waldner in 1997 (a Torres copy with cypress back and sides)
For her interpretations, she has received prizes and mentions in international competitions (including the historic Gargnano competition, the Premio delle Arti and the Migliori Diplomati d'Italia) and has given concerts as a soloist in Italy and several European countries. She also performs with dancer Samuele Berbenni from the corps de ballet of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan and with the flutist Nicola Campitelli. Her recordings have been broadcast several times by ABC Classic Australia, Weta Classical Washington, New York Public Radio, Radio France, Radio Nacional de España, CBC Radio Canada, RAI Radio 3.
With Samuele Berbenni, from the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
Her research on sound has led her to use historical or historically inspired instruments. She currently plays guitars by Renè Lacote (Paris, 1830), Francisco Simplicio (Barcelona, 1929), Enrique Garcia (Barcelona, 1917), Jacques Vincenti (Garcia copy, Geneva, 2007).
In addition to these instruments, she plays a guitar Antonio de Torres built (SE 122) in Almería in 1888. The loan of this instrument was made possible thanks to the cultural and philanthropic initiative "Adopt a Musician", promoted and sponsored by MusicMasterpieces SA - Lugano (CH).
She is also passionate about teaching: she graduated in music education with honors, she is a teacher at the Sassari Conservatory and holds summer advanced courses in S. Caterina in Vafurva.
Federica is passionate about Philosophy (in which she graduated with top marks), Mindfulness and Woody Allen films.
With Paul Galbraith
With Stefano Grondona
With Nicola Campitelli
THEY SAID ABOUT HER...
“Her playing is something special, out of the ordinary, rare, in the deepest sense.”
(Paul Galbraith)
"There are times when a performer identifies totally with his instrument, to the point of forming one thing, where it is impossible to distinguish the former from the latter".
(Andrea Bedetti for MusicVoice)
“Artuso’s performance was elegant, brilliant and flawless.”
(Marco Riboni, “Amadeus”, Italian music magazine)
"Artuso is a guitarist who plays with fluidity and fullness of character"
(Henry Fogel, "Fanfare", U.S.A.)
"Federica Artuso's commendable work on Emilia Giuliani."
(Esther Martin, "Ritmo", Spain)
"Federica Artuso's performance is remarkable; she is truly one with this music. This album allows Emilia Giuliani to take her place among the great composers for solo guitar."
(Jean-Michel Dauriac, Clic.Musique, France)
"The plasticity of the instrumental eloquence appears remarkable, captivating and fully convincing. Although the agility with which Artuso impeccably traverses pages often of a marked virtuosic nature is evident , rather than a striking exuberance, it is precisely the sensitivity of phrasing and the variety of colors and expressions that characterize his interpretations."
(Renato Brusotti, "Musica", Italy)
"Federica Artuso: excellent guitarist."
("Gazzettino", Italy)
"Artuso deeply understands this music and delivers each phrase with direction, variety and confidence. She constantly exploits the changing moods of the music with a broad spectrum of dynamics, color, and articulation."
(Jim McCutcheon "American Record Guide", U.S.A.)
"We have an amazing woman-guitarist playing the music of this woman-composer: Emilia Giuliani."
Weta Classical (Radio and TV station dedicated to classical music, Washington USA)
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