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Simone Vallerotonda Simone Vallerotonda

Bio

Born in Rome in 1983, Simone Vallerotonda started studying the classical guitar. At age 18, deeply in love with early music, he bought a lute without any idea on how to play it.
Then he had lute tuition from Andrea Damiani at the “Santa Cecilia” Conservatory in Rome, where he graduated with the highest marks. He subsequently obtained a Master’s Degree in theorbo and Baroque Guitar at the “Staatliche Hochschule für Musik” in Trossingen (Germany) under the guidance of Rolf Lislevand, also with the highest marks.


Once again with full honours, he graduated in Philosophy at the “Tor Vergata” University of Rome, submitting a PhD dissertation about the relationships between 18th-century music and the French Philosophes.
In 2011, he ranked first in the soloists’ class of the International Lute Competition “Maurizio Pratola”, also obtaining the highest prize in the chamber music section from REMA (Réseau Européen de Musique Ancienne).


He appeared at oustanding theatres and concert venues in the USA, Australia, South America, Far East, Europe, such as: New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Conservatorium, Teatro de la Ciudad in Mexico City, Teatro Municipal in Santiago de Chile, the Singapore Lyric Opera, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, London’s Wigmore Hall, Theater an der Wien, Theatre de Champs Élysées in Paris, Oporto’s Casa da Música, the Liszt Academy of Budapest, Berliner Philharmonie, the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Roma, Teatro alla Scala in Milano.
He has recorded for major radio and television broadcasters such as RAI, ABC, BBC, Mezzo, France Musique, Radio4, Art, Polskie Radio, Kulturradio, RSI, Radio Classica, Vatican Radio, as well as for the labels Naïve, Sony, Erato, EMI, Decca, Amadeus, Brilliant, Aparté, E Lucevan Le Stelle Records, Arcana/ Outhere Music.
In addition to his soloist’s activity, he takes part as a continuo player in various ensembles including: Modo Antiquo, Rinaldo Alessandrini & Concerto Italiano, Imaginarium Ensemble, Cantar Lontano, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Ottavio Dantone & Accademia Bizantina.


Open to experimentation and contamination, he has played with Vinicio Capossela… but that’s another good story!


He is professor of Lute at the Conservatory “A. Pedrollo” in Vicenza (IT)
In 2014 he founded “I Bassifondi”, his own proprietary ensemble offering a 17th-18th century repertoire for guitar, theorbo and lute with continuo.


The concert and recording activity of Simone Vallerotonda and his ensemble I Bassifondi is supported by CIDIM – Comitato Nazionale Italiano Musica.

©Matteo Casilli