Vincenzo Zitello

Career

Zitello is a composer, harpist, and concert artist, started studying music at a very early age, playing the transverse flute and the viola. The first person to spread and pioneer the Celtic harp in Italy, from 1976, he dedicates himself to his musical studies, taking part in Breton cultural and musical seminars held at the “Ti Kendalc'h” with Dominig Bouchaud and Mariannig Larc’hantec. In 1978 he forms the harp and oboe duet with Roberto Mazza. In 1980 he specialised in the bardic harp and Celtic singing with Alan Stivell. In 1985 he formed the duet “ASCIARA” with Saro Cosentino” and records a single produced by Franco Battiato and published by EMI, based on a traditional Irish piece sung in Gaelic, winning the “Vela D’Argento” in Riva Del Garda.

In 1987 “Stile Libero” Virgin publishes his first album, “ET VICE VERSA”, entirely dedicated to compositions for the Celtic harp with metal strings. In 1988 he begins recording his second album, “KERIGMA”, published by Sony Music and presented at the “Premio Tenco” in Sanremo. In 1990, “Kerigma” is published in the USA, Canada and Australia by the recording label NARADA (Sona Gaia), under the title “Euphonia”. In 1994 his third album, “La Via”, is published by D.D.D./BMG Ariola. In 1995 he writes the music for the play “The Beat Generation”, bringing out a CD with the actor Massimo Arrigoni and, on the occasion of the tribute to Fernanda Pivano in Conegliano Veneto, he accompanies the poet Allen Ginsberg in his reading.

In September 1995 he composes an ”Ave Maria” for Edizioni Paoline and presents it live, together with the singer Rossana Casale, in Loreto, in front of the Pope. The Ave Maria is included in a compilation of sacred music “Laudate Domini” published by C.G.D./Ed. In January 1996, the album “La Via” is published in Europe by the record company Live Music, distributed by B.M.G. Ariola under the title “SERENADE”. In 1998 he creates the CD entitled “AFORISMI D’ARPA”, published by R.T.I. MUSIC. At Easter 2000, the magazine Famiglia Cristiana publishes 200,000 copies of the CD “Musica Caeli Concerto per il Giubileo”, containing seven pieces of sacred music composed by Vincenzo Zitello and which, on various liturgical occasions, have been played in Saint Peter’s Square in Rome, in front of the Pope. In April 2001, the record company FELMAY publishes the live CD “CONCERTO” by the TRIO of Vincenzo Zitello. In April 2002, his first CD (from 1986) “ET VICE VERSA” is republished by the label FELMAY.

In 2003 the Sound Library of Parma publishes a recording made in its studios in 1997, entitled “Ottoarmonico”. In 2005 the label TELENN publishes his sixth CD, “SOLO”, played entirely on the Celtic and bardic harps and distributed by ITUNE Store throughout the world. In 2007 he brings out his seventh album, “ATLAS”(label TELENN), sold online throughout the world by the Apple iTunes Store. In 2008 he contributes to Ivano Fossati's CD “Musica Moderna”, and in 2009 to Beppe Barra's CD “N'attimo”. In September 2009 he is awarded the Premio Benessere per la musica by the City of Ischia. In 2010 he collaborates with the classical harp class of the Conservatory of Parma, led by the teacher Emanuela Degli Esposti. In 2011 his eighth album “TALISMANO”(label TELENN) is published, dedicated to the bardic harp and with twelve original compositions.

In 2013 he collaborates with the classical harp class of the Conservatory of Pesaro, led by the teacher Katia Bovo In 2014, he publishes his ninth album - “INFINITO” - For harp and chamber orchestra dedicated to the seasons and the elements original compositions.

Discography