Musicatlas
Music
Mr. Del Forno composes for classical guitar. He has written classical, contemporary, and flamenco pieces. He also wrote two concertos for guitar and orchestra. In addition to composing original works, Del Forno has transcribed many compositions by various composers including fifteen Christmas holiday favorites.
Life
Del Forno began playing guitar at the age of twelve and performed in a rock’n’roll group for about five years. At seventeen upon hearing the classical guitar and its unlimited possibilites, Anton knew his destiny. It was then he abandoned the electric guitar for classical. He attended Mannes College of Music in New York. In 1972 he graduated with highest honors. At the request of his instructor Leonid Bolotine and his senior colleagues, he performed a solo recital there while still a freshman, making him t he first guitarist in the school’s history to do so. At twenty-four the Sol Hurok Agency launched him on a successful concert career. Anton Del Forno now is recognized as the guitar virtuoso/composer of today. Hailed by critics a "The Master of Guitar" leaving audiences throughout the world spellbound. In addition to composing and concertizing, he toured as lead guitarist with the Joffery Ballet in "Viva Vivaldi", performed as stage and lead guitarist in the Broadway production of "Man of La Mancha", and was lead guitarist with the Metropolitan Opera production of Kurt Weill’s "Mahagonny". During one of Del Forno’s United States tours the Lubbock Avalanche Journal said,... "rocks loss is certainly the concert halls gain", and the New York Times said, "He’s a classical guitarist of great accomplishment".