Felix Ayo facts for kids

Félix Ayo Losada (born July 1, 1933, in Sestao, Spain – died September 24, 2023) was a famous Spanish violinist who later became an Italian citizen. He was known around the world for his amazing musical talent.

Félix Ayo was a founder of the famous Italian music group I Musici. He was also a talented violin player who often performed by himself (as a soloist). He played in small groups called chamber music ensembles, taught music, and made many recordings over more than fifty years.

Early Life and Musical Start

Félix Ayo was born in Sestao, Spain. He started learning music at the Municipal Conservatory of Sestao. Later, he continued his music studies at the Municipal Conservatory of Bilbao.

He finished his music studies with high honors when he was just 14 years old. After that, Félix Ayo continued to study music in important cities like Paris, Siena, and Rome.

Founding I Musici

Félix Ayo helped create the famous music group I Musici. He was their main violin soloist for sixteen years. This group became very well-known for playing classical music.

In 1970, he started another group called the Quartetto Beethoven di Roma. Many people thought this group was one of the best string trios and piano quartets ever.

World-Famous Performances

Félix Ayo played his violin in many of the world's most important concert halls. These included places like Carnegie Hall in New York, the Berlin Philharmonie, and the Sydney Opera House.

As a soloist, he performed with many major symphony orchestras. He played with orchestras in cities like Madrid, Copenhagen, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo. He also performed with groups like the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Sharing His Knowledge: Teaching Music

Félix Ayo was also a dedicated teacher. He taught at the Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia in Rome. He also held special advanced classes, called master classes, for students in many countries. These included Canada, Australia, the USA, Japan, and Germany.

He often helped judge international music competitions, choosing the best new musical talents.

Recognized for Excellence: Awards

Félix Ayo's music recordings received many international awards. He won prizes like the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and the Edison Prize.

He also won the Grand Prix du Disque for his famous recording of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. This recording is still considered a classic today. He also won an award from Italian music critics for his recordings of Beethoven's piano quartets.

The Quartetto Beethoven di Roma

The Quartetto Beethoven di Roma was a very successful chamber ensemble. They traveled all over the world, performing in Europe, Russia, the USA, Japan, and many other places. They were a regular part of international music festivals.

The group included Félix Ayo on violin, Alfonso Ghedin on viola, Mihai Dancila on cello, and Carlo Bruno [de] on piano.

This quartet made many recordings of piano quartets by famous composers. These included Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, and Fauré. Their recordings also won the Premio Discografico della Critica Italiana award.

Félix Ayo's Special Violin

Félix Ayo played a very special violin. It was made by a famous instrument maker named Giovanni Battista Guadagnini in 1744.

Many Recordings

Félix Ayo made a huge number of recordings throughout his career. Some of the famous pieces he recorded include:

• Bach Brandenburg concertos
• Bach violin concertos
• Vivaldi violin concerti, including The Four Seasons
• Corelli concerto grossi

He also recorded works by composers like Telemann, Albinoni, Tartini, Viotti, Turina, and Granados. He recorded for well-known record labels such as Decca, EMI Classics, Dynamic, and Philips.

See also

In Spanish: Félix Ayo para niños