There is a warmth in Italian music that feels almost tangible, as if the melody itself were taking a breath. With AMORE: Timeless Italian Flute & Guitar, my colleague Giuseppe Zangari and I invite you to come with us on a musical journey to feel that warmth. This project is not just an album; it is a milestone in my lifelong journey as a classical flutist and storyteller through music. AMORE is my 26th album, a number that speaks to decades of performance, collaboration, and an enduring devotion to the blue flame of live artistry and performance.
From our first note, the record sings with the bel canto spirit— we sing through our instruments, and with the heart. We travel a musical path from Vivaldi and Paganini to the cinematic tenderness of Ennio Morricone, weaving in Italian folk songs and beloved tunes that have threaded themselves into the cultural fabric of our lives. The result is a listening experience that feels both expansive and intimate, as if you were sitting in your living room or an intimate concert hall with two voices telling one shared story.
Giuseppe and I share a rare musical understanding: our instruments converse rather than compete. The flute and guitar trade melodies with a quiet grace, like two close friends whispering a luminous secret. We let each phrase breathe, balancing virtuosity with tenderness so that every moment can speak clearly and truthfully. It is this balance that gives AMORE its generous heart and its gift of solace.
This project grew out of a difficult time—the pandemic era when we first curated Viva Italia and Swoon Italia for live audiences. Those concerts, performed to sold-out crowds, proved that music can heal and connect when the world feels fractured. AMORE carries that mission forward: to bring hope, connection, and a touch of the Mediterranean sun to listeners wherever they are. It is music we felt compelled to share, and I am grateful to have the chance to present it as a recorded testament to resilience and renewal.
I am fortunate to have led, performed, and recorded across a vast landscape of classical music—recitals, chamber programs, orchestral collaborations, and intimate salon performances. My career has taken me across continents, rich with collaborations that pushed the boundaries of what the flute can say. Being recognized as a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in France is a cherished milestone, a testament to decades of dedication, exploration, and a lifelong commitment to musical storytelling. This is not just a badge of honour; it is a reminder of the responsibility I carry to audiences who have supported me through the years.
My colleague Giuseppe Zangari brings chamber-music sensitivity to every note, with a crystalline tone and phrasing that seems to breathe in harmony with my flute. Together, we create moments of stillness and unity—the kind of shared breath that makes beauty feel suddenly possible in a crowded world. AMORE is a celebration of that unity, a quiet revolution in sound that invites both connoisseurs of high art and curious listeners from everyday life to pause, listen, and feel.
To younger flutists and aspiring musicians: this album is for you as much as it is for seasoned listeners. It demonstrates how a mature musical voice can remain responsive, collaborative, and warm. It shows that a long, expansive career is not about shouting over the noise, but about refining a voice, listening deeply, and letting melody guide every choice. If you dream of a lifetime in flute music, AMORE offers a blueprint: cultivate your tone, honour the intimate conversation with your partner-in-music, and always play with heart.
For me, this recording is about love and the Italian art of song. The beauty of AMORE lies in its simplicity: two instruments in perfect balance, offering clarity and emotion in equal measure. If you seek complexity, you will still find it in the layers of tone and phrasing, but the essence remains direct and heartfelt.
AMORE: Timeless Italian Flute & Guitar is more than a collection of tunes; it is a living testament to a career built on curiosity, resilience, and a fearless love for the art form. It glows with the same light that filled our sold-out pandemic performances, and I hope it remains a luminous beacon for listeners who believe in the healing power of melody.
Fan Link: https://ffm.to/jr-amore
Youtube excerpts https://youtu.be/fbcRsCtABeI
YouTube full album: https://youtu.be/w_QD7bbRZ70
Apple ID: 1835333548