Giovanni Guzzo

 

Born in Venezuela to parents of Italian and Venezuelan heritage, Giovanni Guzzo has established himself as one of the most versatile and charismatic musicians of his generation. Through his work as soloist, conductor and leader of some of today’s leading ensembles, he continues to captivate audiences around the world with his thrilling performances, including performances at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Musikverein in Vienna, Wigmore Hall in London and Lincoln Center in New York, as well as the BBC Proms and the Salzburg and Verbier festivals. 

Giovanni has worked closely with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Iván Fischer, Semyon Bychkov, Marin Alsop, Herbert Blomstedt and Reinhard Goebel, as well as performing chamber music with artists such as Joshua Bell, Martha Argerich, Martin Fröst, Miklós Perényi, Daniel Hope, Hélène Grimaud, Janine Jansen and Gábor Takács-Nagy. 

His recent recordings include Brahms’s complete violin sonatas with pianist Zoltán Fejérvári, released by the Hungaroton label. This follows his acclaimed recording of Ysaÿe’s complete sonatas for solo violin on Rubicon Classics, praised by The Strad, BBC Music Magazine and The Guardian.

From 2020 to 2026, Giovanni served as concertmaster and director of the famous Camerata Salzburg. His partnership with the ensemble encompassed international performances and recordings, including Schumann’s Piano Concerto with Hélène Grimaud, released on Deutsche Grammophon’s "For Clara — Extended Edition" in 2024. In 2026, Channel Classics released "Muses", featuring Guzzo directing the ensemble in Stravinsky’s Apollon musagète, Dumbarton Oaks and the Concerto in D.

He was recently named a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in London, a distinction reserved for alumni who have achieved international recognition in their field, and limited to 300 Fellows. His achievements have also been recognised with Queen Elizabeth II’s Commendation for Excellence, the Princess Alice’s Prize, a gold medal at the Marlow Music Festival and the London Symphony Orchestra’s PROMIS Award. He has performed on several occasions for the British Royal Family, including a performance for Queen Elizabeth II on the celebrated ‘Viotti ex-Bruce’ Stradivarius violin.

A protégé of the renowned french violinist Maurice Hasson, Giovanni began studying piano at five and violin at six in Venezuela, guided by Emil Friedman and Luis Miguel Gonzales. At twelve, he became the youngest winner of the Juan Bautista Plaza National Violin Competition. He continued his studies at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid before winning a scholarship, aged sixteen, to the Royal Academy of Music in London, graduating with the highest honours, and where he was later appointed as one of the youngest violin Professors in the institution's long history.

Giovanni Guzzo plays on a 1759 Gennaro Gagliano Violin, kindly on extended loan to him; and a bow by T. Baker awarded to him by J&A Beare.