Flute

Davide Formisano was born in Milan in 1974. He graduated with the highest marks plus distinction under the guide of M° C. Tabarelli, thus perfecting his abilities with Bruno Cavallo, Jean-Claude Gerard at Stuttgart Musikhochschule and Aurele Nicolet in Basel.

Whilst still a teenager, he gained the First Prize at "Galileo Galilei" competition and at Stresa International Competition, obtaining high honours in all the major international competitions. At just seventeen, he took part in the "Jean Pierre Rampal Concourse" in Paris, gaining the "Prix Special du Jury". During the next few years he was awarded 1st prize at the Budapest Flute Competition, and 2nd prize (1st not assigned) at the outstanding ARD Concourse in Munich.

As the First Italian Flautist to receive such honours, the young Davide Formisano had already performed with the major European youth ensembles, such as Orchestra Giovanile Italiana, Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchester and European Community Youth Orchestra, led by such high conductors as Lorin Maazel, Carlo Maria Giulini and Kurt Sanderling.

In 1995 he obtained the Solo Flute role at the Hamburg Filarmonisches Staatorchester, getting the same position in the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra one year later. Now he is Principal Flute in the "Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala" and in the same Philharmonic Orchestra. His position there allowed him to work with the major conductors, Carlo Maria Giulini, Zubin Mehta, Wolfgang Savallisch, Valery Gergev, Myung wun Chung, George Pretre e Giuseppe Sinopoli, Riccardo Muti, Daniel Baremboim, Daniele Gatti and Riccardo Chailly.

Davide Formisano combined his role as Orchestral Professor with a brilliant and growing career as chamberist and soloist. He performed all around Europe and Japan with such partners as Bruno Canino, Radovan Vlatkovic, Phillip Moll, Sergio Azzolini, Fabio Biondi, and accompanied by distinguished Orchestras like Bayerischer Rundfunk, Dresdner Kapellsolisten, S. Petersburg Philharmonic and Tonhalle Ensemble in Zurich.

Always welcomed by audiences, Italian and German press wrote about him during his concerts together with Dresdner Kappelsolisten Ensemble: "A magic Flute impresses the audience" (Il Messaggero, Roma); "an Italian soloist, ensemble guest. who literally elevated his partners with an outstanding interpretative joy and enthusiasm, exhibiting a marvellous sound and a indisputable stylistic ability" (La Repubblica - Firenze); "Simply joy in playing" (Frankfurt Allegemeine); ". because he shows not only precision, magnificent breath control and a constantly rounded and skilful sound. he's a musician who is able to give expression to everything. introduced by Formisano as in a sudden and happy illumination." (la Stampa).

In 1998 and 1999 he took part at several Festivals in Lucerna, St. Moritz, Basilea, Neuchátel, Rheingau and Bad Wörishofen. In Italy, he played in Siena with pianist Phillip Moll, in Milan at the "Serate Musicali" and in Florence for "Amici della Musica" with Bruno Canino, and in Ravenna with some "Wiener Philarmoniker" soloists and M° Riccardo Muti at the Piano.

From 2000 to 2002, Davide Formisano was a guest at Festivals in Switzerland (Baden and Lucerne), in Germany (Würzburg, Neumarkt and Rügen) together with pianist Phillip Moll. During the tours in Japan, he took part in a tournèe playing at the International Fuji Festival, the Yamanami Music Festival, including his recent debut at the prestigious "Bunka-Kaikan" Hall of Tokyo and at the Metropolitan Art Space. He has recently performed Rodrigo's "Fantasia para un Gentil Hombre", with "Orchestra Haydn di Trento e Bolzano" (Italy).

In 2004, he featured as a soloist with the Filarmonica Orchestra of The Scala during a world tour.

He has recorded the complete edition of Mozart flute Quartets with Tartini Quartet. On the occasion of his debut at the Lucerne Musical Weeks, he recorded a CD live with a Recital with Piano. Further of his releases is a CD based on Italian opera themes, in collaboration with Phillip Moll, Sergio Azzolini and Jean-Claude Gerard, and the Mozart KV 314 concerto recording for the German television network, with the pianist-conductor Justus Frantz.

His teaching activity is growing day by day: After several courses in Japan and Italy, Davide Formisano is holding courses at Academie d'Ete in Nice and several masterclasses in Japan.

He presently teaches alongside Bruno Canino at the Acadamia G. Marziali of Seveso and at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart.

Davide Formisano performs with a Muramatsu 24k All Gold flute.

www.davideformisano.it

His assistant, Jean-Claude Gerard, will take problems of technique and tone into consideration using the methods of Moyse, Taffanel, Gaubert and Reichert.


January 2008

(© Bachini)