VITA
GIOVANNI GUZZO

„Giovanni Guzzo‘s technique was impeccable, his interpretation of the Szymanowski Concerto stylish and of irrepressible drive. The cadenza, played with fantastic verve, left me wanting to hear much more from him.“- Andrew Morris on Giovanni Guzzo‘s performance with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 25 October 2011, classicalsource

At 31, Venezuelan-Italian violinist Giovanni Guzzo is one of the most exciting violinists of his generation.

 His passionate interpretations captivate listeners all over the world. Following his London solo debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the press was unanimous in its praise of him as an „impressive“ and „imposing“ musician. Highlights of his career to date include a performance of Beethoven‘s Violin Concerto at Manchester‘s Bridgewater Hall under the baton of Gabor Takacs-Nagy; a concert tour in Switzerland with stops at the Tonhalle Zurich and Casino Bern with Piazzolla‘s Seasons: concerts at the Australian Chamber Music Festival in 2013 and at Vinterfest 2012, the festival of Martin Fröst, the clarinetist: and a recital at the Verbier Festival. Next season Giovanni Guzzo will lead violin concertos by Mozart, as well as symphonies by Schubert and Haydn, perform the violin concertos by Stravinsky and Mendelssohn, as well as Beethoven‘s Triple Concerto with Benjamin Grosvenor and Hannah Roberts, among others, in a project with the Manchester Camerata.

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Giovanni Guzzo began piano lessons at the age of 5 and violin lessons a year later, initially with Emil Friedmann and Luis Miguel Gonzales. At the age of 12, he became the youngest violinist ever to win the XII National Violin Competition „Juan Bautista Plaza“ in Venezuela. He later studied with his musical mentor, the great French violinist Maurice Hasson at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He received a scholarship for his studies, which he completed with the highest honours. Since then he has been awarded many prizes including Her Majesty the Queen‘s Commendation for Excellence, the Gold Medal of the Marlow Music Festival 2006, the HRH Princess Alice‘s Prize, the London Symphony Orchestra‘s PROMIS Award, Young Concert Artist Trust Finalist and the Manoug Parikian and Myra Hess Awards.

Giovanni Guzzo is a regular guest at major festivals including the Verbier Festival, the Festspiele Mecklenburg Vorpommern, the Musikfestival Schloss Cappenberg, the Festival Bellerive Geneva and the Chester Music Festival. A passionate chamber musician, Giovanni Guzzo has worked closely with leading contemporary musicians such as Martha Argerich, Martin Fröst, Joshua Bell, Michael Collins, Daniel Hope and Maxim Vengerov. He is also artistic advisor to the Chester International Music Festival. Giovanni Guzzo plays on a 1709 violin by Antonio Stradivari, kindly made available to him on permanent loan by patron Jonathan Moulds. His bow by T. Baker is a gift from J & A Beare. The AVI Records label released the Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Violin Concerto with the Manchester Camerata conducted by Douglas Boyd.