Sergio Vartolo studied music, organ and harpsichord, at the Conservatorio of Bologna and graduated at the University of the same city.
He has performed throughout Europe as harpsichordist, organist, conductor, stage director and singer. His recordings have been awarded the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (Frescobaldi Toccatas), the Choc award by Monde de la Musique (Frescobaldi Capriccios) and the Diapason d'Or (Luzzaschi Madrigals).
At present he teaches harpsichord at the Conservatory in Mantua and holds the post of Maestro di Cappella at the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna.
The Cappella Musicale di San Petronio di Bologna (officially know as the Cappella Musicale Arcivescovile di S. Petronio), was founded in 1436 by a papal bull from Eugenio IV. It is considered by many musicologists to be amongst the most prestigious musical institutions in Italy and one of the most productive artistic centres in the whole history of music.
For Naxos Sergio Vartolo and the Cappella Musicale di San Petronio di Bologna have recorded Cavalieri, Palestrina, Perti and two volumes of baroque laments. They have been particularly successful with Vecchi's L'Amfiparnaso: "There is plenty of gusto here, coupled with a stylish command of the madrigal settings...I can thoroughly recommend it..." (Early Music Review) and with three large works by Monteverdi.
The Early Music Review described Sergio Vartolo's Naxos recording of Monteverdi's Ballo Delle Ingrate and Tancredi e Clorinda as being " among the most convincing performance of these works I have heard" whilst a warm and intimate version of L'Orfeo was assessed by Fanfare thus: "The singers are excellent and integrated into a carefully prepared ensemble...You will not do much better at triple the price".
In addition, Sergio Vartolo has recorded Monteverdi's smaller-scale works: the Canzonette (with Patricia Vaccari)and the same composer's delightful Scherzi Musicali A Tre Voci.
August 2002
