born in Trento, studied with Salvatore Accardo, under whose guidance he graduated with honours, and then at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena and the Hochschule in Freiburg. His activity as a soloist and in chamber ensembles has taken him to major venues and festivals throughout Europe, Japan, Africa, the United States, Central and South America. He has performed twice in Rome’s prestigious season I Concerti del Quirinale di Radio 3. Recently he achieved resounding success at Carnegie Hall in New York interpreting Mendelssohn’s Concerto. He has played with artists such as Salvatore Accardo, Bruno Canino, Rocco Filippini, Bruno Giuranna, Alain Meunier, Bruno Mezzena, Anthony Pay, Franco Petracchi, Ruggiero Ricci and Giovanni Sollima. He is celebrated for his many recordings including the world premiere of the 29 Concertos for violin and orchestra by G. B. Viotti and the complete Beethoven works for piano and violin with Stefano Giavazzi.
Franco Mezzena founded both the Mezzena Quartet, and the Piano Trio Mezzena-Patria-Ballario. He plays in a duo with violinist Patrizia Bettotti, and is active as a conductor. He gives many masterclasses (Royal College and Trinity College in London, Hochschule in Leipzig) and holds an annual specialisation course in Rome at the Accademia Ariadimusica. He won the Premio Napoli Cultural Classic Award (XV edition) at Eccellenze 2015, in the music category. Mezzena is Artistic Director of the Chamber Orchestra of Lecce and Salento. He plays on a violin by Antonio Stradivari from 1695 and on instruments made by Giovanni Osvaldo Fiori, Giuseppe Leone and Roberto Regazzi. He regularly records for Odradek Records, Brilliant Classics, Dynamic and Luna Rossa Classic.
