BIOGRAPHY
Just 7 years old, Manuel started studying classic guitar with Maestro Doria-Miglietta.
In 1988 he got a top grade degree at the Conservatorio Statale in Cuneo, with Maestri Pino Briasco and Paolo Manzo.
In march 2010 he graduated with high honors, getting a II level academic degree, presenting a thesis about the “History of Tango” for flute and guitar by Astor Piazzolla.
He partecipated at several national contests, always scoring excellent results. Remarkable are:
1st prize at Classical Guitar Academy in Milan
1st prize at “Pasquale Taraffo”, Genua
1st prize at “G.B.Ansaldi” , Mondovì
2nd prize at “Bardolino”, “Alassio” and “Saluzzo – Premio Manta -”contests.
3rd prize at “Viareggio” (flute-duo). Besides:
1st prize at the F. Schubert contest in Tagliolo Monferrato 2nd prize at “G.B.Ansaldi” - ensemble music section- in Mondovì, and he got the Honorable Mention at the Duo Guitars Festival in Montelimar, France in 1990 (at the time, the most important category award).
He carries out concert activity both as solo performer as well as together with other artists, performing a wide range of classical pieces together with south-american folk music in particular argentinian and brazilian.
He was one of quintet “Jazz meets Classic” with whom he examinated closely a repertoire which adds the typical jazz sounds to the standard classical music, performing the complete works for guitar of the french composer Claude Bolling.
Of the same composer, he performed many times and together with other players the “Concerto for classical guitar and jazz trio” an amazing composition in which the guitar' sound blends with piano's, double bass' and drum's ones.
He collaborated with the “Ensamble de Guitares”, with whom he performed as “Guitars trio” at the International Festival in Cervo in 2006.
He took part at 6 editions of the Literary Award “Città di Noli” taking care of the musical arrangements and cooperating with well-known actresses like Paola Pitagora and Milla Sannoner.
Dedicated to him are the tune “Duo” for guitar's duo (unpublished) by Cesare Marchesi and “alla Ravel” from Quattro impressioni per chitarra (Berben publication)by Marco Reghezza.
He has been playing for 20 years with flautist Paolo E.Ferrigato with whom he performed in lots of concerts in Italy and abroad, playing most of duo's repertoire, adding arrangements and transcripions of composers such as Piazzolla, Jobim, Gismonti and Sakamoto.
In 2010 their CD“Libertango” was released; it contains a choice of live tunes recorded in concerts, to testify the duo's two decade's performances.
In 2012 again with flautist Paolo Ferrigato their second release “Almas de Tango”, containing tunes by Astor Piazzolla and Maximo Diego Pujol, published by Urania Records. He currently alternates concert- and teaching activity.