Nicolò Spera (Italy)
Italian guitarist Nicolò Spera is one of the few guitarists to perform on both six-string and ten-string guitars. He has published recordings of the complete guitar works by Maurice Ohana; new commissioned works for guitar and choir; his own transcriptions of Bach’s Cello Suites; selected works by Catalan composers Federico Mompou and Enrique Granados; a recording focused on the passacaglia form; and the complete works with guitar of Christopher Theofanidis.
A primary goal of Nicolò’s creative work is to expand the guitar repertoire. He has commissioned, performed, and recorded new works ranging from solos to programs with choirs, small ensembles, and orchestras. He has collaborated with composers from Europe and the Americas, including Nicola Campogrande, Carlos Cordero, Filippo Del Corno, Steve Goss, Corrado Margutti, Annika Socolofsky, Giacomo Susani, and Christopher Theofanidis.
Nicolò’s passion for choral music and his interest in new works for guitar and choir have also led him to a close collaboration with Eugene Rogers and EXIGENCE Vocal Ensemble in the US, and with Giovanni Cestino and ITER Research Ensemble in Italy.
His most influential teachers are Oscar Ghiglia, Jonathan Leathwood, and Lorenzo Micheli. Since 2011, Nicolò teaches guitar at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Artist's Webpage: colorado.edu/music/nicolo-spera