Federico Ferri is the musical director and founder of the Ensemble Respighi and the Accademia degli Astrusi. His own artistic career has proceeded with these groups, promoting projects and concerts from baroque to contemporary music.
He has performed in prestigious venues such as the Grand Theatre de l’Opera National de Bordeaux, Berlin Konzerthaus, Royal Palace in Lisbon, Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome, Wigmore Hall, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Muziekcentrum De Bijloke in Ghent, Teatro dal Verme in Milan and Teatro della Pergola in Florence, and in festivals such as MiTo SettembreMusica, Ravenna Festival, Istituzione Universitaria dei Concerti di Roma and Amici della Musica di Firenze.
He has performed with renowned soloists such as Anna Caterini Antonacci, Sara Mingardo, Bruno Canino, Franco Maggio Ormezowsky, Laura Polverelli, Domenico Nordio, Pavel Berman and Danilo Rossi.
As assistant to Gianandrea Noseda, he has conducted the Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Orchestra dell’Accademia Filarmonica della Scala and I Pomeriggi Musicali, to name just a few. He has conducted some world premières, enthusiastically received by public and critics alike: one was Stagioni by Adriano Guarnieri, in collaboration with Rai Tre. Recently, he conducted at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna and will conduct the Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Torino for the first time.
He has also worked on rediscovery of the instrumental works of Padre Giovanni Battista Martini, a continuing project bringing back to light the valuable but forgotten compositions of Mozart’s famous teacher; he edited the critical edition of Martini’s works for the publisher Suvini-Zerboni and recorded the music for the first time ever, with original baroque instruments.
Of particular significance too is his work in rediscovering and promoting the forgotten repertoire of the 20th century, such as some unpublished scores by F. Margola and L. Simoni.
He records for Velut Luna, Tactus, and Cd Classics. Many of his recordings and concerts have been transmitted by TV and radio stations such as the BBC, Rai Uno, Rai Tre, Sky Classica, Radio Vaticana, SBS, Radio Svizzera Italiana and Rai Radio3, receiving critical acclaim.