Recognized for his expressive interpretation and effortless virtuosity, guitarist Franco Platino has won enthusiastic praise from audiences and critics around the world. Described by The American Record Guide as “an extremely expressive player, his virtuosity is apparent but never pushed", as well as by Italy’s Seicorde Magazine for performances that are “absolutely on focus, unquestionably professional in the impeccable cascades of notes discharged with complete ease and clarity", Mr. Platino has performed in recital and as guest soloist with orchestras across the United States from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to San Francisco’s Herbst Theater, as well as throughout Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

Mr. Platino’s debut solo recording on Naxos Records, Guitar Recital, received rave reviews by music magazines worldwide, including Japan, Italy, England, Germany, France and the US. Gramophone magazine wrote: "This is one of the finest records of guitar playing I have encountered in many years. It is of star quality in every respect and, given the stylistic range and difficulty of the music, that is an accolade not to be taken lightly".

As a chamber musician, Mr, Platino has worked with a wide range of distinguished artists, most notably his mentor Manuel Barrueco. The two toured in duo throughout Europe, and their concerts were hailed in Spain as a “musical symbiosis” and in Luxembourg as sounding "like four hands on one imaginary gigantic guitar, they played as though they were one man. The seamless-ness of their musical unity was so complete that over long stretches it seemed almost academic." Their concerts were broadcast on radio in Germany and in Italy, and in the US, they performed live on NPR's "Performance Today". The duo’s recording is soon to be released on the Tonar label.

Mr. Platino has also released Robert Beaser’s Mountain Songs with flutist Susan Glaser on the Koch International label, hailed by UK’s Classical Guitar Magazine as “guitar playing at its best, musically alert, sensitive to the flute's demands, able to apply the player's own considerable powers of imagination...". In addition, he recorded Liebermann’s Sonata for Flute and Guitar with flutist Alexa Still, also for the Koch International label.

Beyond his work as a recording artist and performer, Franco Platino is a highly sought-after teacher who has inspired many prize-winning students. Devoted to teaching at the highest level, he is a master teacher at the Levine School of Music in Washington DC, and has given master classes at conservatories and guitar festivals around the world.

Born in Sardegna, Italy, Mr. Platino began to play the guitar at the age of ten. Six years later he made his debut for the Italian television station RAI, performing in a series of live broadcasts, which reached an audience in excess of eight million people. Mr. Platino went on to win top prizes in every national and international competition he entered, and received the particular honor of winning the Naxos Recording Prize at the 1997 Guitar Foundation of America International Competition. A graduate with high honors from the Conservatorio Statale di Musica G. P. da Palestrina in Italy, Mr. Platino also graduated from the Graduate Performance Diploma and the distinguished Artist Diploma programs at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD, where he studied under the guidance of world renowned guitarist Manuel Barrueco.

Franco Platino prefers D'Addario strings.

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