Franco Claudio Ferrari

Franco Claudio Ferrari (Alessandria, April 7, 1918 – Verona, January 24, 1995) was an Italian violinist. Very precocious in the art of music at the age of 14 he had already graduated from the Milan Conservatory in violin, piano and composition. At 13 he made his debut in Milan with Paganini’s Concerto n.1 in D major under the direction of Gino Marinuzzi. He perfected himself in the art of the violin under the guidance of Maxim Jacobsen who also dedicated many of his works to him on the analysis of violin technique.

After his Milanese debut, he figured among the soloists of the Teatro alla Scala, of the Augusteo, of the Maggio Musicale, Society of the Milan quartet of the R.A.I. Turin, Milan, and Rome and important European orchestras: Paris, London, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and America: San Francisco, Portland, Boston, New York, Acapulco, Marlboro, Mexico City, Lima, with conductors such as Kleiber, Mitropoulos, von Karayan, Berstein, Celibidache, Cherchen, Albert, Bellugi, Zubin Metha.

In 1949 he was called to occupy the position of 1st solo violin of the Orchestra of Santa Cecilia in Rome. Herbert von Karajan called him the best “spalla” in the world along with Willi Boskovsky.

In 1956 invited by the conductor and composer Igor Markevitch he moved to Mexico City as 1st solo violin of the National Symphony Orchestra and teacher of specialization in that conservatory. In 1972 he was called by Prince Ranieri to occupy the position of 1st violin soloist of the Montecarlo Symphony Orchestra.

In duo with Giorgio Federico Ghedini, with the Trio di Roma (Ferrari-Baldovino -Silvestri) and as 1st violin of the Boccherini Quintet and the Quartet of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia he gave concerts for the most prestigious concert associations throughout Europe.

Upon his return to Italy (1974) he devoted himself to teaching at the Conservatories of Verona and Mantua. Among his Italian students,  stand out Roberto Muttoni.

Source: Maxim Jacobsen Violin School