Richard Savino's performances and recordings have been praised by critics
throughout the world. In addition to receiving a Diapason d'Or from Compact
(Paris) and a 10 du Rèpertoire (Paris) the latter has also placed his Boccherini
recordings in their "Great Discoveries" category which they deem as essential to
any classical music collection. He has also recorded the romantic guitar music
of Johann Kaspar Mertz (HM) virtuoso sonatas by Paganini and Giuliani with
violinist Monica Huggett, and sonatas for flute and guitar with flutist Laurel
Zucker. In 1998 Koch International released his recording of an extensive
collection of 18th century guitar music from Mexico by Santiago de Murcia (4
Stars: Goldberg) which the Public Radio International program The World featured
as its "Global Hit," and in September 1999 Mr. Savino was the subject of a one
hour special on the PRI program Harmonia. With El Mundo he has recorded Venice
Before Vivaldi, a Portrait of Giovanni Legrenzi and Villancicos y Cantadas
(sacred music from Spain and Latin America) and with Ensemble Galatea he has
recorded the music by Barabara Strozzi (Emanuella Galli, mezzo soprano), Biagio
Marini (with Monica Huggett) and Giovanni Buonamente (with Monica Huggett and
Bruce Dickey).
In recent years Koch released his recording of the first period
instrument versions of the Boccherini Guitar Symphonia and the Op. 30 Concerto
for Guitar by Mauro Giuliani with Ms. Huggett and the Portland Baroque
Orchestra. His most recent recordings (2006-07) include The Essential Giuliani
Vol. 1 (Koch), Music Fit for a King (solo baroque guitar music by Robert De
Viseé and Françios Campion) and Baroque Guitar Sonatas (1696) of Ludovico
Roncallii (Dorian).
As a continuo player and accompanist Mr. Savino has worked
with some of the world's most important performers and is a principal performer
with the Houston Grand Opera, New York Collegium, Portland Baroque Orchestra,
San Francisco Symphony, Santa Fe Opera, San Diego Opera, Opera Colorado, Dallas
Opera and Glimmerglass Opera. From 1986-98 Mr. Savino directed the CSU Summer
Arts Guitar and Lute Institute. Presently he is director of the ensemble El
Mundo and in 1995 and 2005 he was Visiting Artistic Director of the prestigious
NEH sponsored Aston Magna Academy and Music Festival at Rutgers University. An
avid writer, Mr. Savino has had articles and editions published by Cambridge
University Press, Editions Chantarelle and Indiana University Press. He is a
lecturer and instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a
Professor of Music at CSU Sacramento where he has been the only music professor
to receive "outstanding and exceptional" and "best" sabbatical awards. Mr.
Savino instructors have included Andres Segovia, Oscar Ghiglia, Albert Fuller
and Jerry Willard. He received his Doctorate from SUNY at Stony Brook.
