FRANCESCO PETRACCHI

Born in Pistoia in 1937, Franco Petracchi studied in Rome at the Santa Cecilia Academy of Music and graduated (summa cum laude) in 1958 with Guido Battistelli, having also studied composition with Di Donato and Margola and conducting with Franco Ferrara. In 1960 at the Contemporary Music Festival in Venice he gave the world première of Firmino Sifonia’s Double Bass Concerto and in the same year became principal double bass with the Turin RAI Symphony Orchestra, moving in 1962 to Rome, where he held a similar position until 1980, before embarking on a full time career as soloist and conductor. He has appeared with leading conductors and enjoyed distinction also as a teacher, since 1986 at the Geneva Conservatoire. In the tradition of great virtuosi he is credited with having revolutionised the technique of his instrument and has had a number of works dedicated to him by contemporary composers. As a personal choice Franco Petracchi has for the most part refused to record in studios, but many of his concerts have been recorded live and released on compact disc.

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