A renowned Italian guitarist, composer, and musicologist, he is celebrated for his contributions to the classical guitar repertoire, particularly through his transcriptions and compositions.
Angelo Gilardino was a renowned Italian composer, guitarist, and musicologist, best known for his significant contributions to the guitar repertoire, premiering hundreds of new works, and composing music that has left an indelible mark on the classical guitar landscape.
Born on November 16, 1941, in Vercelli, Italy, Gilardino embarked on his concert career in 1958, which spanned over two decades until 1981. During this period, he premiered numerous new works for the guitar, including John Duarte's Mutations on Dies Irae in 1974.
As an educator, Gilardino taught at the Liceo Musicale G. B. Viotti in Vercelli from 1965 to 1981 and later held a professorship at the Antonio Vivaldi Conservatory in Alessandria from 1981 to 2004. In 1998, the Conservatory awarded him the esteemed Marengo Music Prize.
Gilardino's compositional oeuvre includes a wide range of works, from solo guitar pieces to chamber music and concertos. His solo guitar compositions are particularly notable, with the five-volume Studi di virtuosit e di trascendenza (1981-1988) being a significant addition to the guitar repertoire.
These studies, reminiscent of Franz Liszt's Transcendental Etudes, are dedicated to various influential figures, providing valuable insight into the composer's inspirations and artistic lineage. The guitarist Cristiano Porqueddu has recorded these etudes for Brilliant Classics.
Gilardino's other notable works include two numbered sonatas (1985, 1986), titled sonatas and sonatinas, sets of variations (1989, 1991), and Ikonostas for a guitar tuned in G (2004). He has also written four works for guitar with guitar orchestra, seven concertos for guitar, and several duets for guitar with other instruments.
From 1967 to 2006, Gilardino supervised the publication of hundreds of new guitar works through Edizioni Musicali Bèrben, making significant contributions to the guitar repertoire.
Furthermore, he discovered Ottorino Respighi's Variazioni and several works written for Andrés Segovia by Cyril Scott, Pierre de Bréville, and others, thereby enriching our understanding of guitar music.
Through his compositions, educational endeavors, and publishing efforts, Angelo Gilardino has left an indelible mark on the world of classical guitar music, inspiring generations of guitarists and composers.
Born in 1893
Renowned for popularizing classical guitar music and transcribing classical masterpieces for the instrument, he elevated the guitar's status as a concert instrument.
76 Years Old
Renowned classical guitarist and educator, known for his mastery of the instrument and influential teaching methods. He has inspired generations of guitarists with his technical precision and musicality.
92 Years Old
A renowned pianist, composer, and conductor, he is best known for his iconic film scores, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter, which have become an integral part of popular culture.
