BIO
Francesco Di Cristofaro is a musician, researcher, and producer whose work lies at the intersection of traditional music, contemporary experimentation, and sound production. His practice integrates acoustic and electronic approaches, with a particular focus on the transmission and reinterpretation of oral traditions.
He began studying piano and accordion at an early age, earning a Piano diploma from the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music). He later obtained a Bachelor’s degree in “Extra-European Musical Traditions (Indological focus)” from the “A. Pedrollo” Conservatory in Vicenza, and a Master’s degree in “Electronic Music – Music Production and Recording” from the “N. Sala” Conservatory in Benevento. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in “Musicology and Musical Heritage” at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
In 2009, he co-founded the ensemble Brigan, with which he has carried out extensive international concert activity alongside research on Mediterranean traditional repertoires.
In 2019, he released a solo piano album dedicated to Armenian composer and ethnomusicologist Vardapet Komitas on the DaVinci Classics label. In 2021, he collaborated with Armenian director Hrachya Sargsyan, composing the music for the experimental medium-length film Exodus in Three Parts, focused on the Armenian diaspora.
He currently performs as a multi-instrumentalist with Peppe Barra, Flo, and Massimo Ferrante. He has also collaborated with artists including Radizi, degoya, Nino D’Angelo, ’E Zezi, Vinicio Capossela, Lino Cannavacciulo, Cesare Basile, Nour Eddine Fatty, Andrea Sannino, Barbara Buonaiuto, Evì Evan, Moni Ovadia, Juri Camisasca, Eliseo Parra, Marzouk Mejri, Mbarka Ben Taleb, Caterina Pontrandolfo, La Mescla, and Ensemble Calixtinus. He has contributed to over 40 recordings and has performed internationally across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
In 2019, he founded and directs the record label Liburia Records.
Ha suonato in numerosi eventi e festival internazionali, tra cui:
Punjabi University Patiala (India), Asia World Music Festival (Cina), Elbphilharmonie (Amburgo), Théâtre National Algérien (Algeria), Jacob’s Ladder Festival (Israele), Festival Intercéltico de Sendim (Portogallo), Neukölln Folk Festival (Berlino, Germania), Teatro Campoamor (Oviedo, Spagna), University Church of St Mary (Oxford), Teatro El Albeitar (León, Spagna), Théâtre Régional d’Oran (Algeria), Mera World Music Festival (Cluj, Romania), Teatro Afundación (Vigo, Spagna), Sala Galileo Galilei (Madrid), St. Gallus Festival (Svizzera), Festival TradinEtno (Pazin, Croazia), Festival Biradosnamorados (Braga, Portogallo), La Notte della Taranta, Aspenizas Folk Festival (Spagna), San Mateo Festival (Oviedo), Auditorium Parco della Musica (Roma), Celtic Transylvania Festival (Romania), Le Delirium (Avignone, Francia), Forum Universale delle Culture (Napoli), Festival delle Tradizioni (Vicenza), Ethnos Festival (Napoli), Festival dell’Arpa Viggianese, Festival Pifferi, Muse e Zampogne (Arezzo), Paleariza Festival, Festival della Zampogna di Scapoli, Mercantia, La Ghironda (Ostuni), Borgosonoro (Longiano), Festival di Voci e di Suoni (Caprarola), Mediterraneo Insieme (Nardò), JoggiAvant Folk, Festival del Cedro, Coreutica (San Vito dei Normanni), Ernica Etnica (Veroli), Breental Celtic Festival, Teatro del Sale (Firenze), Teatro San Genesio (Roma), Teatro Aperto (Verona), Teatro Civico (Caserta), Teatro Bolivar (Napoli), Teatro Ghirelli (Salerno), Teatro Tor Bella Monaca (Roma), Teatro del Lido di Ostia, Teatro Comunale di Vicenza, Teatro Monteverdi di Cremona, Napoli Teatro Festival, Auditorium Castel Sant’Elmo (Napoli), Fairylands Celtic Festival (Roma), Premio Andrea Parodi (Cagliari), Premio Bianca d’Aponte, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Pastorizia in Festival, Francigena Folk Festival, Istituto De Martino (Sesto Fiorentino), Archivi della Resistenza (Fosdinovo), Fortezza di Castrocaro, Oh!Festivà (Ravenna), Ambasciata Italiana di Santiago del Cile, Ambasciata Italiana di Montevideo (Uruguay) e Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Oslo.