Vincenzo Zitello

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Vincenzo Zitello
Born	13 December 1956 (1956-12-13) (age 67) Modena, Italy
Occupation(s)	Composer, harpist

Vincenzo Zitello (born 13 December 1956) is an Italian composer and harpist who specializes in original music for the Celtic Harp, or Clarsach.

He began studying music at a very young age, playing the transverse flute, viola, violin, and cello. In 1975, he was part of Magnetic Loom, an experimental group led by Franco Battiato, along with Yuri Camisasca, Roberto Mazza, Lino Capra, Terra di Benedetto, and Mino De Martino.

In 1977, he dedicated himself to studying Breton culture and music through workshops at "Ti Kendalc'h" with Breton harpists Dominig Bouchaud and Mariannig Larc'hantec, while simultaneously studying classical harp with Lisetta Paleari. Zitello is also noted for being the first player and popularizer of the Celtic Cláirseach harp (metal strings) in Italy.

In 1980, he studied the bardic harp (Clasach) and British and Gaelic chant with Alan Stivell. In 1985, he joined Franco Battiato’s tour with Saro Cosentino, who later produced a single by the duo under the pseudonym Kilim. This single, released by EMI under the name 'A Sciara,' featured a reworking of a traditional Irish piece sung in Gaelic and led to winning the "Gondola D'Argento" at the International Exhibition of Light Music in 1985.

In 1986, Zitello self-produced an audio cassette titled "Fragments of Aura Amorosa," which in 1987 was re-released as his first solo album, "Et Vice Versa." This album became the first CD and vinyl of Celtic harp recorded and published in Italy (by Stile Libero/Virgin), consisting entirely of original pieces by Vincenzo Zitello for the Cláirseach harp.

In 1988, he released his second album, Kerygma (Epic CBS Sony Music), which was presented at the Tenco Award. The album was also released in the U.S. by the Narada (Sona Gaia) label under the title Euphonia.

In 1994, he released his third album, La Via, published by D.D.D./BMG Ariola. This album was released in Europe in 1996 under the title Serenade.

In 1995, he composed the music for the show The Beat Generation, which featured readings and literary reworkings by Massimo Arrigoni on the Beat Generation, alongside musicians Daniele Caldarini, Federico Sanesi, Tobia Winter, Stephen James, and Amelia Cuni. A CD was produced for this show, which was presented during a tribute to Fernanda Pivano in Conegliano Veneto. Zitello also accompanied Allen Ginsberg in a reading, and the performance was reprised in 2007 for the tenth anniversary of the poet’s death.

In 1995, he composed an Ave Maria in Latin for the Pauline Editions, which he presented live, along with singer Rossana Casale, Franco Parravicini, and Federico Sanesi, in Loreto, in the presence of the Pope and 400,000 young people from across Europe. The Ave Maria was published in a compilation of sacred music, Laudate Domini, released by CGD.

From 1997 to 2015, he served as the artistic director of the Isolabona HARPAE Festival, in alternating phases until 2014. In 1998, he released his fourth album, Aforismi dell'Arpa, published by RTIMUSIC and Sony S4.

In 2000, Famiglia Cristiana released the Easter 2000 CD Musica Caeli, a concert for the Jubilee, featuring pieces performed in St. Peter's Square in Rome in the presence of the Pope.

In 2001, he released the CD Vincenzo Zitello Trio, composed with Franco Parravicini and Federico Sanesi for the Felmay label. The album, titled Concerto, was recorded live at Bloom di Mezzago.

In 2004, the Fairyland label released his sixth album, Solo, which was entirely played on Celtic and Baric harps (Clasach).

In 2006, he founded a school for the rebirth of the Viggianese harp and became the director of the Viggiano Harp Festival. In 2007, he released his seventh album, Atlas, which features not only Celtic harps but also wind and string instruments.

In 2011, he released his eighth album, Talismano, entirely dedicated to the Bardic harp (Clasach) with 12 original compositions.

In 2012, he collaborated with Emanuela Maccarani's National Rhythmic Gymnastics team.

In 2014, he published his ninth album, Infinito, featuring original pieces for strings, oboe, flutes, and Celtic harp, inspired by the four seasons and elements.

In 2017, he released his tenth album, Metamorphose XII, a double disc with 12 original songs performed both with the harp alone and with a twenty-one-piece orchestra.

In 2019, he released his eleventh album, Anima Mundi, which includes 22 songs interpreting the Major Arcana of the tarot.

In 2021, he published his twelfth album, Mostri e Prodigi, featuring 8 songs inspired by the medieval bestiary.

In 2022, he released his thirteenth album, Le Voci della Rosa, with 10 songs inspired by Elisabetta Motta's critical work on nine contemporary poets.

He has held master classes at the Conservatories of Parma and Pesaro, served on the jury for the Prix du Trophée de Harpes Camac at the Interceltique de Lorient festival in 2010, and was part of the jury for the International Harp Sound Festival in Salsomaggiore from 2010 to 2014. He also served on the jury at the Saluzzo high school (Cn) in 2015 and 2016.

• 1987 - Et vice versa (Virgin Dischi, SLLP 006; collana Stile Libero)
• 1988 - Kerygma (Epic, 465181 1)
• 1994 - La Via (DDD - La Drogueria di Drugolo, 74321 18905 2; distribuzione: BMG Ariola)
• 1998 - Aforismi d'arpa (RTI S4/Sony Music, 8012842130427)
• 2001 - Concerto (Live) (Felmay, FY 21750 8035 2; pubblicato come Vincenzo Zitello Trio)
• 2005 - Solo (Telenn)
• 2007 - Atlas (Telenn)
• 2011 - Talismano (Telenn)
• 2014 - Infinito (Telenn)
• 2017 - Metamorphose XII (Telenn)
• 2019 - Anima Mundi (Telenn)
• 2021 - Mostri e Prodigi (Telenn)
• 2023 - Le voci della rosa (Telenn)

• 1979 - Francesco Magni - Il Paese dei Bugiardi
• 1984 - Nicola Frangione – Italic Environments Nembo Verso Nord
• 1986 - Alice - Park Hotel Nuvole Rosse
• 1987 - Ivano Fossati - La pianta del tè
• 1988 - Underground Life - Gloria Mundi
• 1990 - Quiet Force – The Maior and Miror Things
• 1990 - Ivano Fossati - Discanto
• 1991 - Mario Castelnuovo - Come sarà mio figlio
• 1992 - Ivano Fossati - Lindbergh
• 1993 - Teresa De Sio - La mappa del nuovo mondo
• 1993 - Ivano Fossati - Buontempo & Carte da decifrare Live Teatro Ponchielli Cremona
• 1993 - The Gang - Storie d’Italia
• 1993 - Cardinale/Parravicini - Canto D’amore
• 1993 - Bouchaud/Colas - Heol Dour
• 1994 - Dagda Morrigan - Tir na nog
• 1994 - Claudio Rocchi - Claudio Rocchi
• 1995 - Massimo Arrigoni - The Beat Generation
• 1995 - Casale/Zitello - Laudate Dominum
• 1995 - Mara - Mara
• 1995 - Tosca - Incontri e Passaggi
• 1996 - Pooh - Amici per sempre
• 1997 - Quartetto Borciani - Razmatazz
• 1998 - Gai Saber - Espirit de Frontiera
• 1998 - Alice - Exit
• 1999 - Arcari/Corsi/Salis/Dalla Porta - Il viandante immaginario
• 2000 - Musica Caeli - Concerto per il Giubileo
• 2001 - Gaspare Bernardi - L’arco Terrestre
• 2002 - I Luf - Ocio ai Luf
• 2003 - La Lionetta - Arzan
• 2003 - Dodi Battaglia - Assolo
• 2003 - Greenoch - Greenoch
• 2003 - Vibrarpa - Scianti
• 2003 - Tilion - Insolitariamente
• 2004 - Dino Betti Van Der Noot - Ithaca
• 2004 - La Sedon Salvadie - Il cielo d’Irlanda
• 2004 - Lou Dalfin - L’oste del Diau
• 2004 - Francesco Magni - Scigula
• 2004 - Tao Alchemic Simphony - Tao
• 2004 - Carmelo Salemi - A sud dell’anima
• 2005 - Maurizio Camardi - Impronte
• 2007 - Luf - So nahit’h val Camonega
• 2007 - Roberto Tardito - Controvento
• 2007 - Dino Betti Van Der Noot - The Humming cloud
• 2008 - Piazza/Brahms - Ashbrah
• 2008 - Colossus Project - The Empire & the Rebellion
• 2008 - Piazza/Brahms - Tiakuraka
• 2008 - Ivano Fossati - Musica moderna
• 2008 - Francesco Magni - Balada del Balabiott
• 2008 - Fabio Caucino - Passeggero dell’anima
• 2009 - Beppe Barra - N’attimo
• 2009 - Dino Betti Van Der Noot - God Save the Earth
• 2009 - Daal - Disorganicorigami
• 2010 - Lepricorns - La Figlia del vento
• 2010 - Duo MilleMiglia - A musical Journey
• 2010 - Girotondo D’arpe - Wandering Harps
• 2011 - Yo Yo Mundi - Munfra
• 2011 - Maura Susanna - Terra Mia
• 2011 - Stefano Melone e Vincenzo Zitello - Cosmos Orchestra
• 2012 - Dino Betti Van Der Noot - September’s New Moon
• 2012 - Emanuela Degli Esposti - Valse, arabesque, ballade, berceuse
• 2012 - Ar Nevez - Canntaireachd
• 2012 - Daal - Dodecahedro
• 2012 - Zu Gruve - Summer Vibes
• 2012 - Girotondo d’arpe - For Christmas
• 2013 - ILuf - Mat e Famat
• 2013 - Dino Betti Van Der Noot - Dreams Are Made On
• 2013 - Nichelodeon - Bath Salts
• 2014 - Alberto Patrucco /Andrea Mirò - Segni (e) Particolari
• 2015 - Girotondo D’arpe - Girotond & Friends
• 2015 - Leggend and Prophecy - Crohm
• 2015 - Partenze - Massimo Donno
• 2015 - Van DerNoot - Notes are but wind
• 2016 - Uaragniaun - Primitivo
• 2016 - Flo Gaggiano - Il mese del rosario
• 2016 - Fufluns - Spaventapasseri
• 2017 - Prowler - Navigli Riflessi
• 2017 - Massimo Priviero - All'Italia
• 2017 - Dino Betti Van Der Noot - Où Sont Les Notes D'Antan ?
• 2018 - Maurizio Geri Perle D'Appennino
• 2018 - Alessandro Parente - Storia di un antico Suonatore
• 2018 - The Magic Door
• 2019 - Alan Stivell Uman-Kelt
• 2019 - Dino Betti Van Der Noot -Two ships in the night
• 2020 - ZDL -Nudo
• 2021 - Alfio Costa Frammenti
• 2021 - Paola Tagliaferro Sings Greg Lake
• 2021 - Arthuan Rebis -Sacred Woods
• 2021 - Dino Betti Van Der Noot - The silence of the broken lute
• 2021 - Nikelodeon - Incidenti
• 2021 - Max Manfredi - Il grido della fata
• 2021 - Osanna - Il Diedro del mediterraneo
• 2022 - Zorama - Conteremo i fiori di un giardino
• 2022 - L'arcaico raggio - L'arcaico raggio
• 2022 - Enten Hitti - La via lattea
• 2023 - L'arcaico Raggio-Il signore della ruota. Ode ai quattro elementi.

• Official website (in Italian)