Francesco Defronzo

Born 1980, Italian, Francesco Defronzo holds the position of second clarinet with obligation to bass clarinet and basset horn at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, whose former principal conductor was Riccardo Muti. Previously, he held the same position at the Teatro Verdi di Trieste from 2008 to 2012. Thanks to his successful auditions, he played with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale RAI, Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Torino, Orchestra della Toscana, Fondazione Arturo Toscanini, both as clarinet and bass clarinet.

Francesco graduated successfully in 2000 at the Conservatory of  Milan, taught by Luigi Magistrelli; he attended then Corrado Giuffredi's lessons at the Conservatory of Modena and Alessandro Carbonare's master classes at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. From 2001 to 2003 he was a member of the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana, which was conducted, in those years, by such directors as Claudio Abbado, Eliahu Inbal, Daniele Gatti, Gianandrea Noseda. 2007 and 2008 he performed as principal clarinet with the Academy Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala, giving a lots of concerts and a tournée in the United Arab Emirates. 2008 he succeeded in the audition for principal clarinet at the Orchestra Cherubini (conducted by Riccardo Muti); he was a part of this Orchestra for a short period since he had to leave for Trieste. Further successful auditions were for the Teatro Petruzzelli (2012) and Orchestra della Toscana (2019).

He was awarded prizes in several clarinet competitions, including: Rino Viani International Clarinet Competition 2007 (1st prize); Clarinetfestival National Competition 2001 (1st prize); Saverio Mercadante International Clarinet Competition 2006 (2nd prize – 1st not awarded); Città di Chieri International 2007 (2nd prize); Città di Carlino International Clarinet Competition 2005 and 2009 (twice 3rd prize), Giacomo Mensi International Clarinet Competition 2005 (3rd prize).

An avid chamber musician, he founded the woodwind quintet Sinestesia, which was awarded in various chamber music competitions (Rovere d'oro 2005 – 1st prize; Rospigliosi 2005 – 1st prize; Getano Zinetti International Competition 2006 – 3rd prize) and made a tournée in South America in summer 2009.

As a soloist, he performed Mozart's Concerto KV622 with the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto under the baton of Hansjörg Schellenberger.

Phrasing out of tempo is an easy shortcut. A good musician should be able to phrase exactly in tempo, before loosening it.