MARCO DE MASI
CELLIST
“Playing is STAYING ALIVE in every moment.”
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GENOVA - ITALY
MY STORY
He graduated with honors from the “N. Paganini” Conservatory of Genoa in the class of Maestro Nevio Zanardi. He then continued his studies with Maestro M. Flaxmann and Maestro G. Laffranchini, historic concertmaster of the cellos at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.
Still in his twenties, he won the auditions for the Teatro alla Scala Youth Orchestra, the Cherubini Orchestra conducted by Maestro Riccardo Muti (chairman of the audition committee), the Italian Youth Orchestra, and the renowned Verbier Festival Orchestra (Switzerland), whose principal conductor is Maestro James Levine. In this orchestra, he was the only Italian winner of the cello section at the international audition held in Zurich.
From 2002 to 2010 he was part of the prestigious “FILARMONICA ARTURO TOSCANINI” Orchestra of Parma where he was chosen by unanimous vote from the cello ranks, with the official approval of the director LORIN MAAZEL, to cover the role of CELLO CONCERTINO: in this group he held concerts all over the world, from Paris to Tokyo, from Moscow to Rio de Janeiro.
Worthy of particular mention during this long period of activity is the collaboration with the famous NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC: the two orchestras performed together at the Avery Fisher Hall in New York and on that occasion Marco De Masi played as concertono alongside the historic first cello part of the New York Philharmonic, Carter Brey.
He was a successful candidate and qualified for auditions and competitions held throughout Italy: from 2000 to 2004, after auditioning for principal cello with Maestro Daniel Oren as president of the committee, he held the position of cello concertoneur at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, replacing the principal cello, the only vacant position in the orchestra. After auditioning for principal cello, he held the position of cello concertoneur at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in the 2000s, again the only vacant position in the institution.
He holds annual contracts as a cello accompanist with the ORCHESTRA dell'ACCADEMIA NAZIONALE di SANTA CECILIA in Rome. He also holds positions as a cello accompanist at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, and the MAHLER ORCHESTRA. He has continued his collaboration with some of these institutions for about twenty years.
He has been regularly invited as First Cello to the ICO Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese (with annual contracts), the Rossini Symphony Orchestra of Pesaro, the Orchestra Città di Ferrara, the Bruno Maderna Orchestra, the Camerata Strumentale Città di Prato (a role he held from the 1999 competition until 2014) and the Orchestra di Roma: with the latter he has undertaken two tours in JAPAN as First Solo Cello, performing in the most prestigious concert halls in the country.
Since 2020 he has been a permanent member of the orchestra of the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa as a cello with the obligation of the concertino.
Marco De Masi plays a G. GUADAGNINI cello from 1802.
WORDS ABOUT ME
"Over the years, I have appreciated Marco's dedication to the instrument and his technical, instrumental, and collaborative skills. I therefore consider him a musician capable of easily and successfully filling the roles entrusted to him in chamber orchestras, symphony orchestras, and operas, including the role of FIRST CELLO."
Maestro GIUSEPPE LAFFRANCHINI
Principal Cello of the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
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“His artistic qualities place him among the best and most qualified figures in the musical field. (…) His preparation, in continuous, intelligent evolution, both technically and interpretatively, has given and continues to give confidence to anyone who avails himself of his skills as a cellist.”
Maestro NEVIO ZANARDI
Cello teacher at the “N. Paganini” Conservatory of Genoa
"I, Romano Pucci, principal flute of the Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala in Milan, declare that I frequently collaborate with cellist Marco De Masi in various chamber music groups at concerts in Italy and abroad, and that he demonstrates commitment, punctuality, and great professionalism."
Maestro ROMANO PUCCI
Principal Flute of the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
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“Over the years of activity of the Camerata Strumentale di Prato, I have had the opportunity to get to know and appreciate the beautiful musical and instrumental skills of Marco De Masi, who combines uncommon solo talents with the ability to blend in with the other musicians in the orchestra.”
Maestro ALESSANDRO PINZAUTI
Conductor