Duo Pace Poli Cappelli

Andrea Pace and Cristiano Poli Cappelli begin their artistic collaboration in 2012, after years of concert activity as soloist and also as members of the Guitar Trio ‘Ravel’. The artistic background of the two young guitarists is immediately reflected in the new line, which collects in a very short time a remarkable consensus. The interpretations of the duo is in fact characterized by the sharpness of interpretative ideas combined with its ease of execution of the two musicians, which gives the public a brilliant recital.

The duo is now engaged in important international guitar festivals and in parallel in the publishing (editions for publishing Symphony) and record. Of particular interest is the commitment of the duo in the diffusion of new music for guitar, with beautiful compositions dedicated to the formation by major contemporary composers such as Giorgio Mirto.

They recently published their first Cd for Brilliant Classics: “M. Castelnuovo-Tedesco: complete music for two guitars”

Cristiano Poli Cappelli was born in Frosinone in 1974. He took a degree in Law and shortly after he obtained the diploma with first-class honours in Guitar at Pescara’s conservatoire under Letizia Guerra’s direction.He has won several prizes in several important national contests (Vasto, Latina, Castelfidardo, Lamporecchio), where he always emerged thanks to his musical talent. Among others, Carlo Marchione, Pablo Marquez, Alexandre Swete and Alberto Ponce have contributed to his preparation. The latter defined him as “sensitive and confident musician, endowed with a pleasing and strong sound”. He has followed the triennial course in High Proficiency at the Fondazione Arts Academy in Rome, under the direction of Maestro Stefano Palamidessi. Apart from his strong didactic engagement, he is constantly giving concerts. He has been performing in musical festivals all along Italy and abroad, where he has been invited by the Institutes of Italian Culture in Salonicco and Fiume. Along with his solo career, he frequently collaborates with chamber ensembles with flute, violin with Duo Euterpe, together with pianist Manfredo Di Crescenzo. Moreover he plays in particular with Trio Chitarristico Ravel, with whom he has embarked on an important concert activity, reaching a highly appreciated and high-level standard. He has carried out also several collaborations as solo player with active orchestras such as Corelli Chamber Orchestra. He has performed as guitar solo several concertos for guitar and orchestra, i.e. Benedetto Marcello’s Adagio in a guitar transcription, the concerts in D and C by Antonio Vivaldi, which he also performed in the important musical season “Historia sacra et saecularis”, held in Rome’s Pantheon. He played also Astor Piazzolla’s “Double concerto for guitar, bandoneon and strings”, which he has performed all along Italy for more than fifty times. In 2006 he took part in the TV program “Adolescenti TVB” together with Dr. Vittorino Andreoli on the satellite channel, SAT 200 with Trio Chitarristico Ravel and in collaboration with flutist Marco Ferraguto. Moreover he has played live for Radio-broadcasts several times (Radio Vaticana, Radio Rai International). He has been selected as best graduated for the recording of the CD Omaggio a J. S. Bach, where he plays J. S. Bach’s Bwv 1006a suite for lute. This project was supported by Regione Abruzzo. Together with Trio Chitarristico Ravel he has recently recorded a CD containing Franco Margola’s complete works for three guitars, which include the first ever recording of Sonata II. Together with Trio Chitarristico Ravel has recently published by Edizioni Sinfonica, a review of the Three Preludes by George Gershwin in a transcription and revision for guitar trio and he is the dedicatee of one of the 6 Studies for Guitar by Giorgio Mirto and is responsible for the first incision in the CD publication of the work for Edizioni Sinfonica. Together with Trio Chitarristico Ravel’s other members he has been giving proficiency courses at Genzano’s summer school for years and he is taking part in the examining commission in the local conservatoire. Apart from the concert activities he is constantly carrying out a teaching activity by the S.M.I.M.s and in private institutions. He is currently Guitar teacher at the Middle School with instrumental course of studies, “SANGALLO”, located in Ostia (RM) and at the prestigious Civica Scuola delle Arti in Rome. He has been co-founder of the musical association Camerata Monteverdi in Rome, and its president for several years. Such an association distinguished itself in Rome for the considerable organisational activities in the field of ancient music by the Pantheon and the Museo Nazionale Romano.

He recently recorded two important Cds: “M. Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Works for two guitars”, one of the best Cds of 2015 for American Record Guide, and “A. Tansman: works for solo guitars”.

He’s now working on a new recording with musics by Abel Carlevaro.

Andrea Pace started his studies in music at the prestigious Arts Academy in Rome under the guidance of Maestro Alessandro De Pau and then, at a very young age, graduated with the highest marks from the Conservatory A.Casella in L’Aquila. In those years, he also began studying musical composition with Maestro Antonio D’Antòand won, at the young age of sixteen, a national competition for High School students. His interest in chamber ensembles with guitar led him to widen his knowledge in chamber music repertoires, under the guidance of Maestro Arturo Tallini, and to explore the many expressions and sounds that a guitar can have. Very important for his musical studies was his encounter with Maestro Stefano Palamidessi, with whom he attended a three years course in concert training, specializing with guitarists such as Massimo Delle Cese, Mario D’Agosto, Pavel Steidl, Giampaolo Bandini and Carlo Marchione.Considered one of the most talented Italians of his generation, he has won many national and international competitions, includingthe National Competition “Castrocaro Classica”, reserved to the best graduates of Italian Conservatories where he received great praise from the public and critics. He has been invited to perform recitals in prestigious concert halls (mostrecently the concert at the Theatre “La Fenice” in Venice, dedicated to film soundtracks, with the Symphonic Orchestra of Sofia) and he is regularly a guest at various guitar festivals, playing in Spain, Portugal, Austria and Bulgaria. Of great importance is his work regarding the recording of film soundtracks. Amongst others, he participated in the making of the film “Bàaria” of Giuseppe Tornatore with music composed by Ennio Morricone and in the new remastering of Charlie Chaplin films with music written by the American composer Timothy Brock. He has also made recordings for Rai 1, Rai 3, Sat 2000, la Radio Vaticana, radio RAI Internationaland Rai 3, and has participated in many television shows. He teaches guitar at ‘Civica Scuola Delle Arti’ in Rome.