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"One of the most reknown and admired Italian guitarists" (CD Classica), Flavio Cucchi has given hundreds of recitals in America, Europe, Asia and Australia, participating in radio and television broadcasts of the most important world –wide broadcasting companies in the world (BBC, RAI, ZDF, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Televisa Mexico, Television Corporation of Singapore, Radio Praga and others).
Born in Revere (Mantua) on 24 October 1949, he began studying classical guitar at a very young age, holding his first concert in Verona at the age of 8.
In his teens he engaged in the musical scene in the '60s with various avant-garde groups and folk music artists and recording for RCA and Fonit Cetra. (see the volume "The days of music" by B. Casini Ed. Sonora)
Returning to classical music, he graduated with full marks and honors at the Cherubini Conservatory of Florence, under the guidance of the Alvaro Company, and studied with Oscar Ghiglia at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena (Scholarship with Merit).
Winner of international competitions he started his international career as a contemporary music specialist: he held the world premiere of Petrassi's "Sestina d'autunno", performed Boulez's "Marteau sans Maître" at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, performed numerous performances of "El Cimarron" by Henze, he participated in the performance of works by Sylvano Bussotti and other contemporary composers, he collaborated with Luciano Berio for the drafting of Sequenza XI etc..
He is one of the first Italian guitarists to popularize the compositions of Leo Brouwer, who wrote: "Flavio Cucchi's perfect tone and virtuoso approach is serving marvellously to a panorama of my music".
As a soloist he has played in more than thirty European cities with orchestras such as: Orchestra della Toscana, English Chamber Orchestra, Radio Brno Chamber Orchestra, Guitar Symphonietta, Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano, Orchestra Toscanini, Orchestra dell 'ATER, National Orchestra of the Basque Country etc.
He has been the guest of international festivals all over the world: the Festival Estival - Paris, Festival de la Habana-Cuba, Festival M.Ponce-Mexico City, Festival, Wexford opera festival, (Ireland), Bath guitar festival- (England), Cantiere internazionale d'arte di Montepulciano, Tribute to Segovia-Florence, Guitar Virtuosos Saint Petersburg (Russia), Singapore guitar festival, Tokyo Gendai Guitar Festival (Japan), Asia International festival – Bangkok (Thailand), Uppsala International festival (Sweden), Qinling Festival (China) etc.
Always open to new artistic experiences, he has collaborated with artists from different areas (theater, literature,) such as the actor Carmelo Bene, with whom he held a recital at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Milan in front of 4000 people, who defined him in his autobiography "the greatest living classical guitar" and the American Pulitzer Prize-winning poet for poetry Yusef Komuniakaa who dedicated "Ode to the guitar" to him.
He has held the chair of guitar at the Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali "P. Mascagni" in Livorno, he also held Masterclasses in the USA, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Russia, Sweden, China, Japan Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia ecc.
Many composers have dedicated their music to him. The great pianist Chick Corea dedicating one of his compositions to him wrote in an American magazine: "Listening to a skilled and creative musician like Flavio, I was inspired to write for him and his guitar ... It is very exciting for me to listen to the result, see my idea realized with such a high level art ".
He has released 15 CDs, one DVD and numerous albums available on all the digital platforms (Spotify, ITunes, Amazon etc.)
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