Arnaldo de Felice is a foremost Italian oboist and composer, born in Florence. He started his oboe studies at the age of 13 years with Harold Gomberg, principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and gave his first solo recital two years later.

In 1984 he became principal oboist of the Symphony Orchestra “Arturo Toscanini” in Parma, Italy. He obtained his Diploma with highest mention from the Conservatory “G.B. Martini” in Bologna in 1986, after which he continued his studies with Lothar Koch at the “Mozarteum” in Salzburg. After November 1986, he held teaching positions at several Italian Music Conservatories. Since 1989 Arnaldo de Felice has been Professor of Oboe at the Music Conservatory “C. Monteverdi” in Bolzano.

Principal oboist of the “Arturo Toscanini” Symphony Orchestra in Parma and project-wise of the “European Community Chamber Orchestra”. As soloist, DE FELICE has appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York, at the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein, in the Tonhalle Zürich, at the Nuremberg State Theatre, at the Teatro Comunale in Modena and the Teatro Farnese in Parma, in the Verdi Hall of the Società dei Concerti in Milano, at Ferrara Music in the “Teatro Comunale” in Ferrara, at the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna, as well as in Bolzano at the Società dei Concerti, Fondazione Teatro Comunale di Bolzano, Auditorium Haydn di Bolzano.

De Felice’s chamber music partners included Gustav Kuhn, Enrique Mazzola, Kurt Widmer, Sabina von Walther, Machiko Takahashi, Michael Martin Kofler, Ingolf Turban, Conrad Steinmann, Patricia Kopachinscaja, Gérard Wiss, Anna Kravtchenko, Yves Savary, Valeri Popov. He has recorded for the ORF (Austrian Radio), RAI (Italian Radio), BR (Bavarian Radio), SDR2 (Swiss Radio) and Radio Belgium.

De Felice was a jury member of the international competitions Young Musical Talents 2000 in Sofia, Bulgaria and the First Audi-Mozart I Fiati di Mozart International Competition in Rovereto. In 2009/10 DE FELICE held Masterclasses and performed at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, at Castellon University of Music, Spain, at the Conservatorio para los etudos Superior de Musica de Aragon in Zaragoza, Spain, at the II International Orchestral Wood woodwinds meeting in Tatuí, Brazil, in São Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro at the Università della Musica Unirio “Villa Lobos”. October 2010 held Masterclasses and performed at University of Music in Cullera, Madrid, Barcellona, Zaragoza, Spain. Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing China, Okinawa University of Musik, Tokyo Japan. February 2011 Royal Nothern College of Music Manchester, England. Februrary 2011, Concert and master class (Rachmaninov Hall) Moscow Conservatory, July 2011

Arnaldo de Felice has been invited, as a soloist, at the I° Beijing International Oboe Festival, October 2011 was invited to teach a master class chamber music for the Academy “Gustav Mahler” by Claudio Abbado, has been invited, as a soloist in Tijian Concert hall, Shenzhen Concert Hall. 22 Oktober 2011 has been invited, as a soloist in “National Museum for the history of Russia in Moscow“ (Mozart and Britten Quartett) In 2009/2010 DE FELICE gave masterclasses for advanced oboe studies at Musikforum Viktring, Klagenfurt, Austria. In conjunction with the Fondazione Teatro Comunale di Bolzano Arnaldo de Felice has been founder of the Accademia Neue Music Bolzano in 2005 and its artistic director (2005-2009) as well as principal oboist of the ensemble.

With De Felice as artistic director, the Accademia Neue Musik Bolzano inaugurated the International Festival of Contemporary Dance at the Biennale in Venice in 2006 collaborating with the re-known choreographer Ismael Ivo. Several concerts with the Concert Society of Bolzano with composers such as Giacinto Scelsi, Isang Yun e Ligeti. In January of 2009, the Accademia Neue Musik Bolzano has obtained a great international success with the Italian premier of the opera Julie by the Belgian composer Philippe Boesmans with reviews in major European magazines.

The composer Arnaldo de Felice studied Composition with Roland Moser at the Music Academy of the City of Basel, Switzerland. In July 2001 he was awarded first price at the International Opera Competition Teatro Minimo of the Theatres of the Bavarian State Opera House Munich and the Opera House Zurich (members of the jury included Sir Peter Jonas, Alexander Pereira, Luciano Berio, Manfred Trojan, Zubin Metha, Franz Welser-Most) with his Chamber Opera (Opera Lirica da camera) Akumu.

DE FELICE’S chamber music partners included Gustav Kuhn, Enrique Mazzola, Kurt Widmer, Sabina von Walther, Machiko Takahashi, Michael Martin Kofler, Ingolf Turban, Conrad Steinmann, Patricia Kopachinscaja, Gérard Wiss, Anna Kravtchenko, Yves Savary, Valeri Popov.

He has recorded for the ORF (Austrian Radio), RAI (Italian Radio), BR (Bavarian Radio), SDR2 (Swiss Radio) and Radio Belgium.

Arnaldo de Felice’s compositions and world premières:

MaChiko for flute solo (1996) in Tokyo (Bunka-Kaikan) and Osaka (Izumi Hall), Japan;
Judith for soprano and Renaissance treble recorder in G and F;
Bellarmin for treble recorder, oboe and cello (1997) at the International Festival for Treble Recorder in Zurich;
Bellarmin for oboe and piano (1999) at the Teatro Comunale in Ferrara; Le linee della vita… for soprano, string trio and piano (1999) in Weimar and Toblach;
Notturno (2001) for string trio in Liestal, Switzerland;
Percussioni d’ombra for treble recorder quartet at the European Music Months 2001 in Basel, Switzerland;
Akumu, Chamber opera (2001) Opera House Zurich and Bavarian State Opera House Munich;
Medusa for alto flute solo (2002) in Amsterdam and Sapporo (Hokkaido), Sapporo Concert Hall;
Tre Canti for soprano, violoncello and piano (2003) at the Konzertverein Bozen and at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich (Ernst von Siemens-Auditorium);
Angoli d’Ombra for Symphony Orchestra (2003) in Merano at the Meraner Musikwochen (Conductor S. Sondekis);
Medusa for oboe solo (2004), State Theatre House Nuremberg;
In November 2005 world premiere of the Opera Medusa at the Bavarian State Opera House Munich;
In June 2006 opening performance of the Biennale Danza in Venice with music to the ballet Illuminata, choreographer Ismael Ivo (world premiere); Pezzo Fantasioso (world premiere) at the Tiroler Festspiele Erl in July 2006;
Performances of the opera Medusa at the Munich Opera Festival during summer 2006;
Den for cello and piano, at the Munich Opera Festival in July 2008; Frammenti tratti dal Gigante Egoista di Oscar Wilde (Wilde: The Selfish Giant) for soprano, bass and orchestra, world-premiere at the Festival of Haydn’s 50th Anniversary in Bolzano with Haydn Orchestra Bolzano (Conductor Gustav Kuhn) in 2010;
In July 2010, Viktring (Klagenfurt, Austria) “…nach Erinnerungen und Briefen von Alma Mahler…” for soprano and flute (cello ad libitum) – world premiere

CD with De Felice’s composition Mu for flute and percussion released in March 2010 (recording company Camerata Tokyo).