Flute concertist, professor at Musikhochschule in Stuttgart, principal flutist at the Scala in Milano
Sir James Galway about Davide Formisano: „Davide is the most brilliant and talented flutist I ever listened to. I believe sooner or later he will become an absolute international superstar.“
Davide Formisano was born in Milan in 1974. He graduated with the highest marks plus distinction under the guide of M° C. Tabarelli, thus perfecting his abilities with Bruno Cavallo, Jean-Claude Gérard at Stuttgart Musikhochschule and Aurèle Nicolet in Basel.
Whilst still a teenager he gained the first prize at "Galileo Galilei" competition and at Stresa International Competition obtaining high honours in all the major international competitions. At just seventeen, he took part in the "Jean Pierre Rampal Concourse" in Paris, gaining the "Prix Special du Jury". During the next few years he won a prize at Kobe International Flute Competition, 1st prize at the Budapest Flute Competition and 2nd prize (1st not assigned) at the outstanding ARD Concourse in Munich.
As the first italian flutist to receive such honours the young Davide Formisano had already performed with the major european youth ensembles such as Orchestra Giovanile Italiana, Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchester and European Community Youth Orchestra led by such high conductors as Lorin Maazel, Carlo Maria Giulini and Kurt Sanderling. In 1995 he obtained the solo flute role at the Hamburg Philharmonisches Staatsorchester, getting the same position in the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra one year later. From 1997 until 2012 he was principal flute in the "Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala" and in the Philharmonic Orchestra.
His position there allowed him to work with the major conductors: Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim, Carlo Maria Giulini, Zubin Mehta, Wolfgang Savallisch, Valery Gergev, Myung wun Chung, Georges Prêtre, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Daniele Gatti and Riccardo Chailly. Davide Formisano combined his role as orchestral flutist with a brilliant and growing career as chamberist and soloist in Europe, Russia, South America and Asia.
As a soloist he performed with such Orchestras as Bayerischer Rundfunk, Solisten der Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkorchester Basel, Tonhalle Ensemble Zurich, Luzern Festival String Orchestra, Praha Chamber Orchestra, S. Petersburg Philharmonic, Real Filarmonia de Galicia, Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, Tokyo Ensemble, Simon Bolivar Orchestra and with conductors as Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim, Hans Vonk, Kurt Sanderling, Donato Renzetti, Fabio Biondi, Antoni Ros Marba, and Rumon Gamba. Chamber music partners are Riccardo Muti, James Galway, Daniel Barenboim, Philipp Moll, Bruno Canino, Sergio Azzolini, Radovan Vlatkovic and Fabio Biondi.
He was invited to play in the following festivals: Luzern Festival, Festival der Nationen, Rheingau Musikfestival, Rossini Opera Festival, Nuits musicales d‘été de Nice, Serate musicali, Società de quartetto, Amici della musica Palermo/Firenze and Milano, Festival Giordano, Ravenna Festival, Budapest Spring Festival, International Fuji Festival, the Yamanami Music Festival. He gave his debut at the prestigious "Bunka-Kaikan" Hall of Tokyo and at the Metropolitan Art Space. Recently he has performed Rodrigo's "Fantasia para un Gentil Hombre", with "Orchestra Haydn di Trento e Bolzano" (Italy). In 2004, he featured as a soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra of The Scala during a world tour.
Always welcomed by audiences, italian and german press wrote about him during his concerts together with Dresdner Kapellsolisten Ensemble: "A magic flute impresses the audience" (Il Messaggero, Roma); "an italian soloist, ensemble guest who literally elevated his partners with an outstanding interpretative joy and enthusiasm, exhibiting a marvellous sound and a indisputable stylistic ability" (La Repubblica - Firenze); "Simply joy in playing" (Frankfurt Allgemeine); "Because he shows not only precision, magnificent breath control and a constantly rounded and skilful sound he is a musician who is able to give expression to everything. Introduced by Formisano as in a sudden and happy illumination." (la Stampa).
He has recorded the complete edition of Mozart flute quartets with Tartini Quartet. On the occasion of his debut at the Lucerne Musical Weeks he recorded a live recital CD with piano. Further of his releases is a CD based on italian opera themes in collaboration with Phillip Moll, Sergio Azzolini and Jean-Claude Gerard and the Mozart KV 314 concerto recording for the italian television network with the conductor Riccardo Muti.
Since 2007 he is a professor for flute at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart. His teaching activity is growing day by day: after several courses in Japan and Italy Davide Formisano is holding courses at Academie d'Eté in Nice and several masterclasses in Japan.
Davide Formisano performs with a Muramatsu 24k All Gold flute.