Francesca Dego
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Celebrated for her sonorous tone, compelling interpretations and flawless technique, Francesca Dego is quickly becoming one of the most sought after young violinists on the international scene. Signed in 2012 by Deutsche Grammophon, her debut album of Paganini’s 24 Caprices and a subsequent complete survey of Beethoven’s Violin Sonatas received critical acclaim. Autumn 2017 sees the release of her highly anticipated first concerto disc featuring works by Paganini and Wolf-Ferrari.
Born in Lecco, Italy, to Italian and American parents, Francesca regularly appears with major orchestras worldwide. Recent and forthcoming highlights include performances with the Gürzenich, City of Birmingham, Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia, Tokyo Symphony and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestras, a tour of the Netherlands with Het Gelders Orkest and the Orkest van het Oosten, as well as performances at Cremona Stradivari Festival and with the Teatro Colon Orchestra of Buenos Aires, Orchestra Classica do Sul and Mannheimer Philharmoniker.
In her home country she collaborates with orchestras such as Milan's "La Verdi", Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, the Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano, the Bari, Bologna, Trieste, Verona and La Fenice Venice Theatre Orchestras as well as the Orchestra della Toscana. In 2008 she garnered widespread attention for being the first Italian female prizewinner of the renowned “Paganini Competition” in Genoa since 1961. In addition she was awarded the “Enrico Costa” prize for having been the youngest finalist.
Her international career to date has allowed her to work alongside many esteemed conductors including Christopher Franklin, Paul Goodwin, Christopher Hogwood, Yoel Levi, Grant Llewellyn, Gianluca Marcianò, Wayne Marshall, Diego Matheuz, Shlomo Mintz, Sir Roger Norrington, Daniele Rustioni and Xian Zhang as well as perform in prestigious venues such as London’s Royal Festival and Wigmore Halls, the Moscow Conservatory Grand Hall, Beijing's NCPA and Rome’s Auditorium Parco della Musica.
Francesca plays on a precious Francesco Ruggeri violin (Cremona 1697) and the ex-Ricci Guarneri del Gesù (Cremona 1734) courtesy of Florian Leonhard Fine Violins. She has recently been named the first female classical musician to be dressed by the Italian fashion house Versace.
Photography: Davide Cerati
