BIOGRAPHY
Recognized for his expressive interpretation and effortless virtuosity, guitarist Franco Platino has won enthusiastic praise from audiences and critics around the world. Described by The American Record Guide as “an extremely expressive player, his virtuosity is apparent but never pushed", as well as by Italy’s Seicorde Magazine for performances that are “absolutely on focus, unquestionably professional in the impeccable cascades of notes discharged with complete ease and clarity", Mr. Platino has performed in recital and as guest soloist with orchestras across the United States from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to San Francisco’s Herbst Theater, as well as throughout Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Mr. Platino’s debut solo recording on Naxos Records, Guitar Recital, received rave reviews by music magazines worldwide, including Japan, Italy, England, Germany, France and the US. Gramophone magazine wrote: "This is one of the finest records of guitar playing I have encountered in many years. It is of star quality in every respect and, given the stylistic range and difficulty of the music, that is an accolade not to be taken lightly".
As a chamber musician, Mr, Platino has worked with a wide range of distinguished artists, most notably his mentor Manuel Barrueco. The two toured in duo throughout Europe, and their concerts were hailed in Spain as a “musical symbiosis” and in Luxembourg as sounding "like four hands on one imaginary gigantic guitar, they played as though they were one man." Their concerts were broadcast on radio in Germany and in Italy, and in the US, they performed live on NPR's "Performance Today". The duo’s recording was released on the Tonar label.
Mr. Platino has also released Robert Beaser’s Mountain Songs with flutist Susan Glaser on the Koch International label, hailed by UK’s Classical Guitar Magazine as “guitar playing at its best, musically alert, sensitive to the flute's demands, able to apply the player's own considerable powers of imagination...". In addition, he recorded Liebermann’s Sonata for Flute and Guitar with flutist Alexa Still, also for the Koch International label.
Beyond his work as a recording artist and performer, Franco Platino is a highly sought-after teacher who has inspired many prize-winning students. Devoted to teaching at the highest level, he is a master teacher at the Levine School of Music in Washington DC, and has given master classes at conservatories and guitar festivals around the world. Since the early 2000's, he has been the substitute teacher for Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.
Born in Sardegna, Italy, Mr. Platino began to play the guitar at the age of ten. Six years later he made his debut for the Italian television station RAI, performing in a series of live broadcasts, which reached an audience in excess of eight million people. Mr. Platino went on to win top prizes in every national and international competition he entered, and received the particular honor of winning the Naxos Recording Prize at the 1997 Guitar Foundation of America International Competition. A graduate with high honors from the Conservatorio Statale di Musica G. P. da Palestrina in Italy, Mr. Platino also graduated from the Graduate Performance Diploma and the distinguished Artist Diploma programs at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD, where he studied under the guidance of world renowned guitarist Manuel Barrueco.
Mr. Platino’s debut solo recording on Naxos Records, Guitar Recital, received rave reviews by music magazines worldwide, including Japan, Italy, England, Germany, France and the US. Gramophone magazine wrote: "This is one of the finest records of guitar playing I have encountered in many years. It is of star quality in every respect and, given the stylistic range and difficulty of the music, that is an accolade not to be taken lightly".
As a chamber musician, Mr, Platino has worked with a wide range of distinguished artists, most notably his mentor Manuel Barrueco. The two toured in duo throughout Europe, and their concerts were hailed in Spain as a “musical symbiosis” and in Luxembourg as sounding "like four hands on one imaginary gigantic guitar, they played as though they were one man." Their concerts were broadcast on radio in Germany and in Italy, and in the US, they performed live on NPR's "Performance Today". The duo’s recording was released on the Tonar label.
Mr. Platino has also released Robert Beaser’s Mountain Songs with flutist Susan Glaser on the Koch International label, hailed by UK’s Classical Guitar Magazine as “guitar playing at its best, musically alert, sensitive to the flute's demands, able to apply the player's own considerable powers of imagination...". In addition, he recorded Liebermann’s Sonata for Flute and Guitar with flutist Alexa Still, also for the Koch International label.
Beyond his work as a recording artist and performer, Franco Platino is a highly sought-after teacher who has inspired many prize-winning students. Devoted to teaching at the highest level, he is a master teacher at the Levine School of Music in Washington DC, and has given master classes at conservatories and guitar festivals around the world. Since the early 2000's, he has been the substitute teacher for Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.
Born in Sardegna, Italy, Mr. Platino began to play the guitar at the age of ten. Six years later he made his debut for the Italian television station RAI, performing in a series of live broadcasts, which reached an audience in excess of eight million people. Mr. Platino went on to win top prizes in every national and international competition he entered, and received the particular honor of winning the Naxos Recording Prize at the 1997 Guitar Foundation of America International Competition. A graduate with high honors from the Conservatorio Statale di Musica G. P. da Palestrina in Italy, Mr. Platino also graduated from the Graduate Performance Diploma and the distinguished Artist Diploma programs at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD, where he studied under the guidance of world renowned guitarist Manuel Barrueco.
"Platino's interpretation will stand as a high standard for any musician." - Guitar Review, USA
"An extremely expressive player, his virtuosity is apparent but never pushed. - American Record Guide, USA
"Technical difficulties seem to be nonexistent for him. His interpretation will suck you in." - Klassik Heute, Germany
"Flawless technique and sensitive, involved nuance." - Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, USA
"Platino brought an unfailingly elegant sense of phrasing as well a beguiling rhythmic elasticity. All evening Platino communicated deeply with the guitar, made it sing and sigh." - Baltimore Sun, USA
"Platino delighted the public with a solid, diamond-like performance." - Seicorde, Italy
"Platino's playing is certainly far from ordinary. He is consistently musical and technically in command regardless of the circumstances." - Soundboard, USA
"The Scarlatti's stylistic flow, the elegance and fluency of the Bach, and the expressiveness of the Mertz and Barrios are excellent." - Gendai Guitar, Japan
"Performances absolutely on focus, unquestionably professional in the impeccable cascades of notes discharged with complete ease and clarity. As a matter of fact, the first and most striking merit of this guitarist is the dominion of the instrument, his technical mastery." - Seicorde, Italy
"An extremely expressive player, his virtuosity is apparent but never pushed. - American Record Guide, USA
"Technical difficulties seem to be nonexistent for him. His interpretation will suck you in." - Klassik Heute, Germany
"Flawless technique and sensitive, involved nuance." - Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, USA
"Platino brought an unfailingly elegant sense of phrasing as well a beguiling rhythmic elasticity. All evening Platino communicated deeply with the guitar, made it sing and sigh." - Baltimore Sun, USA
"Platino delighted the public with a solid, diamond-like performance." - Seicorde, Italy
"Platino's playing is certainly far from ordinary. He is consistently musical and technically in command regardless of the circumstances." - Soundboard, USA
"The Scarlatti's stylistic flow, the elegance and fluency of the Bach, and the expressiveness of the Mertz and Barrios are excellent." - Gendai Guitar, Japan
"Performances absolutely on focus, unquestionably professional in the impeccable cascades of notes discharged with complete ease and clarity. As a matter of fact, the first and most striking merit of this guitarist is the dominion of the instrument, his technical mastery." - Seicorde, Italy
TEACHING
Please inquire to study with Franco Platino in Washington, DC or in Columbia, MD.
Franco Platino is a highly sought-after teacher who has inspired many prize-winning students that have also been accepted to some of the most prestigious conservatories and universities both in the US and abroad. Devoted to teaching at the highest level from beginning students to most advanced, he is a Master Teacher at the Levine School of Music in Washington DC and has given master classes at conservatories and guitar festivals around the world. Since the early 2000's, he has been the substitute teacher for Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.
VIRTUOSO GUITAR DUOS
Manuel Barrueco & Franco Platino
Guitar duos by Ibert, Falla, Albeniz, Granados, Rodrigo, Piazzolla, Assad
Tonar Music TON-CD-VGD1
Manuel Barrueco & Franco Platino
Guitar duos by Ibert, Falla, Albeniz, Granados, Rodrigo, Piazzolla, Assad
Tonar Music TON-CD-VGD1
"Guitar at its Best."
Reinbeker Zeitung, Germany
"Barrueco and Platino gave a sample of their perfect technique, their pure style and their mutual understanding. -La Cronica - Cordoba- Spain
"Like four hands on one imaginary gigantic guitar, they played as though they were one man. The seamless-ness of their musical unity was so complete that over long stretches it seemed almost academic."
Trierisher Volksfreund, Luxemourg
"Virtuosity was in abundance on both guitars, asserting the influence and relevance of classical music." -ABC - Spain
"Both concert artists sparkled with elegance in the whole repertoire" -La Cronica - Cordoba- Spain
"Truly a fruitful collaboration between Barrueco and Platino, resulting in the biggest instrumental cohesion and absolute sound control." -Diario Cordoba - Spain
Reinbeker Zeitung, Germany
"Barrueco and Platino gave a sample of their perfect technique, their pure style and their mutual understanding. -La Cronica - Cordoba- Spain
"Like four hands on one imaginary gigantic guitar, they played as though they were one man. The seamless-ness of their musical unity was so complete that over long stretches it seemed almost academic."
Trierisher Volksfreund, Luxemourg
"Virtuosity was in abundance on both guitars, asserting the influence and relevance of classical music." -ABC - Spain
"Both concert artists sparkled with elegance in the whole repertoire" -La Cronica - Cordoba- Spain
"Truly a fruitful collaboration between Barrueco and Platino, resulting in the biggest instrumental cohesion and absolute sound control." -Diario Cordoba - Spain
GUITAR RECITAL
Franco Platino
Works by Bach, Scarlatti, Rodrigo, Mertz, Ponce, Barrios
Naxos 8.554344
Franco Platino
Works by Bach, Scarlatti, Rodrigo, Mertz, Ponce, Barrios
Naxos 8.554344
"This is one of the finest records of guitar playing I have encountered in many years. It is of star quality in every respect and, given the stylistic range and difficulty of the music, that is an accolade not to be taken lightly." - Gramophone, UK, John Duarte
"Franco Platino expresses his superiority very clearly, by choosing high level masterpieces for this CD, the kind of pieces that present the ultimate limit to the repertoire of most guitarists." - Gitarre & Laute, Germany
"Confidence and sensitivity come together here in a presence that communicates energy and emotion - what else could we ask for?" - Les Cahiers de la Guitare et de la Musique, France
"The superb new recording by Franco Platino is full of life. His Scarlatti is bright and sparkling, his Bach shows his depth and understanding of the music, and his Rodrigo brings out his virtuosity. Franco is a brilliant young player who has reached maturity early in his life. He is an exciting new star in the guitar world." - David Russell
"Franco Platino expresses his superiority very clearly, by choosing high level masterpieces for this CD, the kind of pieces that present the ultimate limit to the repertoire of most guitarists." - Gitarre & Laute, Germany
"Confidence and sensitivity come together here in a presence that communicates energy and emotion - what else could we ask for?" - Les Cahiers de la Guitare et de la Musique, France
"The superb new recording by Franco Platino is full of life. His Scarlatti is bright and sparkling, his Bach shows his depth and understanding of the music, and his Rodrigo brings out his virtuosity. Franco is a brilliant young player who has reached maturity early in his life. He is an exciting new star in the guitar world." - David Russell
MOUNTAIN SONGS
Susan Glaser (flute); Franco Platino (guitar); Kari Paulnack (piano)
Works for flute and guitar, and flute and piano by Robert Beaser and Amanda Harberg
Koch International Classics KIC-CD-7533
Susan Glaser (flute); Franco Platino (guitar); Kari Paulnack (piano)
Works for flute and guitar, and flute and piano by Robert Beaser and Amanda Harberg
Koch International Classics KIC-CD-7533
"This is guitar playing at its best, musically alert, sensitive to the flute's demands, able to apply the player's own considerable powers of imagination." - Classical Guitar, UK
LIEBERMANN
Five Pieces from Album of the Young; Sonata for flute & Guitar; Eight Pieces
Alexa Still (flute); Franco Platino (guitar); David Korevaar (piano)
Koch International Classics KIC-CD-7549
Five Pieces from Album of the Young; Sonata for flute & Guitar; Eight Pieces
Alexa Still (flute); Franco Platino (guitar); David Korevaar (piano)
Koch International Classics KIC-CD-7549
I MAESTRI DELLA CHITARRA
A reprint of Guitar Recital (Naxos) annexed to the October-December 2004 issue of the Italian guitar magazine Seicorde
Michelangeli Editore - SEI 081
http://www.seicorde.it/seicorde/n81.php
A reprint of Guitar Recital (Naxos) annexed to the October-December 2004 issue of the Italian guitar magazine Seicorde
Michelangeli Editore - SEI 081
http://www.seicorde.it/seicorde/n81.php
