Mario Del Grosso

Harpsichordist and instrument builder

Italy Genova - via San Luigi 20/1 - 16153 -Tel-Fax 0039-010-6516106

E mail - mariodelgrosso@tin.it

 

Mario Del Grosso began his activity as an instrument builder in 1980, subsequently attending courses by Grant O’Brian in 1982 / 83 and  Christopher Clarke in Antwerp.  He brought his attention  especially  towards  the construction of spinets, virginals, and  Italian,  Flemish and French harpsichords. In  1987   he  completed  the integral  construction  of  a  copy  of  a fortepiano by A. Walter conserved at the Nurnberg Museum,  first in Italy. He has combined his work as a  builder with  restoration work  performed  on harpsichords and fortepianos of historical prestige held in private collections and museums. While on tour in Austria, Hungary, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the United States and Canada, M. Del Grosso has been fortunate enough to carefully  study prestigious  instruments  kept in their respective museums, analysing  various  construction methods and details and exchanging  facts  and viewpoints in numerous  encounters  with  European  and  American instrument makers. Mario Del Grosso has given  summer specialisation courses on the construction and restoration of  harpsichords, and conferences on keyboard instruments, taking  part in numerous  festivals and  expositions, such as Stresa, Cervo, Pieve di Teco, Urbino, Antwerp, Moneglia and Perugia. He also plays harpsichord  and fortepiano as solo,  in  various  ensemble  of  early music ensemble and with singers, in  numerous concerts in Italy and other country making TV recordings and compact disks. He started his study at the Conservatory of Genoa graduating in Piano and Harpsichord, finishing his preparation with David Collyer, Aline Zilberajch and Gustav Leonhardt.