SoloDuo

Biography

As SoloDuo, Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli have performed throughout Europe, Asia, the USA, Canada and Latin America, and have been acclaimed everywhere from New York's Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall to Seoul's Sejong Chamber Hall, from Kiev's Hall of Columns to Vienna's Konzerthaus as one of the best ensembles ever heard.

In addition to classic, romantic and modern repertoire, Matteo and Lorenzo joined by lutenist Massimo Lonardi enjoy exploring the early literature for baroque guitar and theorbo. Together, Matteo and Lorenzo have recorded François de Fossa's Three Quartets, op. 19 (2004), a CD of 17th century Italian music for baroque guitar, archlute and theorbo ("La Suave Melodia", with Massimo Lonardi 2008), a CD of Arias and Cantatas by Alessandro Scarlatti (“Clori, ninfa e amante”, 2013), an anthology of 20th Century masterpieces for two guitars (“Solaria”, 2007), the Duos Concertants by Antoine De Lhoyer (2007),a collection of chamber works by Mauro Giuliani (2008), a collection of 19th Century pieces for two guitars (“Noesis”, 2009), the Sonatas of Ferdinand Rebay (2010), the 24 Preludes and Fugues by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (2012), and the album “Metamorphoses” (2014), as well as a dozen solo recordings on the labels Naxos, Brilliant Records, Kookaburra, Mel Bay, and Stradivarius.

Matteo resides in Geneva, Switzerland, where he teaches at the Conservatoire Populaire. Lorenzo lives in Milan, Italy, and teaches at the CSI Conservatory in Lugano, Switzerland. Matteo and Lorenzo use guitars by luthier Roberto De Miranda of Milan, Italy.

Matteo Mela was born in Imperia in 1971. A student of Renzo Doria Miglietta in his hometown, he moved to Cremona to pursue his studies of musicology at the University. In Cremona he met Giovanni Puddu, who played a major role in his musical education; at the same time, he had the chance to attend the classes of Angelo Gilardino, Alirio Diaz, Oscar Ghiglia, David Russell, the Assad brothers. Moreover, he studied chamber music at the Accademia Pianistica di Imola with Dario De Rosa, Alexander Lonquich, and Pier Narciso Masi. As a member of the Mela-Bandini duo Matteo won between 1991 and 1998 the first prize in several prestigious chamber music competitions, such as the Aram (Rome) 1992, the F. Cilea Competition in 1993, the GMI in 1994, the Città di Gubbio, Città di Caltanissetta and Perugia Classico Competitions in 1995.

Matteo also regularly gives recitals and makes tv and radio appearances across Europe and North America (recent engagements have included performances in Rome, Milan, Bologna, Turin, Naples, Paris, Hamburg, Cologne, Warsaw, Oslo, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston). A teacher at the Accademia di Perfezionamento "G. Caccini" in Montopoli Val d'Arno and at the Accademia Musicale Tema in Milan, Matteo has released a CD of Latin American Dances (Quadrivium, with G. Bandini) and the solo CD Italian virtuosos of the nineteenth century (Kookaburra), as well as the Three Quartets, op. 19, by french composer François de Fossa (CD Stradivarius). His forthcoming new CD includes Astor Piazzolla's complete guitar music, featuring Ivan Rabaglia (violin), Lorenzo Micheli (guitar), Per Arne Glorvigen (bandoneon) and the Piazzolla String Ensemble.

Lorenzo Micheli, theorist and guitarist, has taken up a busy concert career throughout the world since winning the first prize in some of the most prestigious guitar competitions (Gargnano, Alessandria, Guitar Foundation of America). He has played more than 500 concerts all over Europe, in hundreds of US and Canadian cities, in Africa, Asia and Latin America. As a researcher and scholar, he has written articles and contributions for a number of music journals, including Il Fronimo and Guitar Forum.

Lorenzo's discography includes the music of Dionisio Aguado, the Quartets, op. 19, by François de Fossa, the Sonatas by Ferdinand Rebay, a CD of 17th Century Italian music for baroque guitar, archlute and theorbo and a collection of Arias and Cantatas by Alessandro Scarlatti (Stradivarius); the complete guitar Concertos by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (Brilliant); a selection of guitar music by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, the complete works by Miguel Llobet and the Duos Concertants by Antoine de Lhoyer (Naxos); an anthology of chamber works by Mauro Giuliani (Amadeus), two collections of 19th and 20th century masterpieces for two guitars (Noesis and Solaria, Pomegranate), the album Morning in Iowa (with David Knopfler) and Castelnuovo-Tedesco's 24 Preludes and Fugues for two guitars (Solaria).

Press Highlights

Their brilliant performance made the case that Italy should be the center of the guitar universe. Coordination between Mela and Micheli was like the physical cooperation between dancers.
THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

The duo's playing was nothing less than rapturous, profound and unforgettable musicianship of the highest order.

– THE WASHINGTON POST

The duo is one of the finest on the planet. They easily toss off the most varied and difficult repertoire. This concert was amazing!
SOUNDBOARD (Vol. XXXVIII No. 2 2012)