Andrea Griminelli’s sensitive interpretations and astonishing technique have earned accolades and awards from every corner of the musical world – including the Grammy, the Prix de Paris and an Italian Knighthood.
Legendary flutist Sir James Galway described him as “the greatest flute player who has come to the forefront of the musical scene for many years”.
Over a 34-year career as a soloist, Griminelli has performed at La Scala, Carnegie Hall and Suntory Hall among many others in Europe, Asia and the Americas. His performances with leading conductors have included Georges Pretre, Carlo Maria Giulini, Zubin Mehta, Sir Roger Norrington, Emmanuel Krivine, Yuri Bashmet, Sir Richard Bonynge, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, James Levine, and Jerzy Semkov among others.
He has worked with the Royal Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony, Munchner Rundfunkorchester, London Philharmonic, l’Orchestre de Paris, New York Philharmonic, Orchestra Nazionale della RAI, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic to name a few.
In 1984, at 25, he was invited by Luciano Pavarotti to perform in the now famous concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden. This marked the start of a collaboration between the two artists that spanned 200 concerts including performances at London’s Hyde Park, New York’s Central Park, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Red Square, Moscow.
In 1991 Griminelli received a knighthood from the President of the Italian Republic and in 2003 he was made Officer of Merit of the Italian Republic.
A champion of new work, he has given the world premieres of compositions for flute and orchestra by many composers including Carlo Boccadoro, Fabrizio Festa, Ennio Morricone and Shigeaki Saegusa.
Griminelli began playing the flute at the age of eleven. During his studies with Jean-Pierre Rampal at the Paris Conservatory, he won music competitions in Stresa and Alessandria, Italy. He was twice awarded the prestigious Prix de Paris.
A prolific recording artist, he has been featured as soloist on more than 30 discs including recordings with the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jean-Pierre Rampal and Camerata Academica Salzburg led by Sir Roger Norrington.
His work on behalf of charitable causes has led to frequent collaborations with artists from popular culture including Sir Elton John, James Taylor, Sting, Branford Marsalis and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.
press
"...a very pleasant surprise was flutist Andrea Griminelli, who, with perfect intonation and impeccable phrasing, offered moments of effective virtuosity and precious lyricism." Roberto Iovino on La Repubblica
"...skillfully maneuvering and always producing clear, controlled tones, backed by a technique and intonation free from any imperfections." Gianni Villani
"Exceptional skill and harmony of the four Italian soloists, surprising for their sense of rhythm, perfect timing of entrances, and ability to recreate the nuances of Rossini's crescendo..." Giancarlo Cerisola
"...flutist Andrea Griminelli performs with the English Chamber Orchestra, playing concertos by Vivaldi and Mercadante (Decca). A magnificent soloist personality to discover. Beauty of sound, precision of breath and fingers, poetry in phrasing, and a true radiance: this is the flute at its highest level." Le Quotidien De Paris
