Francesco Rista is an Italian guitarist and composer based in Iceland. His work spans a wide spectrum of colors and textures, constantly pushing the boundaries of modern crossover music. His passion for baroque repertoire led him to create an original arrangement of Bach’s Second Partita for Violin, followed by his second album, MAGNIFICAT. Rista has been the dedicatee of works by composers including Finnur Karlsson, Marianna Filippi, Kevin Swierkosz-Lenart, Nick Martin, and Evagoras Solias Apokidis, and he premiered the guitar concerto by British composer Oliver Davis. On the electric guitar, he has performed Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint on multiple occasions and recorded John Cage’s DREAM and Bryce Dessner’s Garcia Counterpoint on his own label, Fresh Ribes.

In 2025 he released the album STABAT MATER, which was widely reviewed in international magazines such as Salt Peanuts, Psychedelic Baby, Fifteen Questions, among others. The album has been broadcast on RAI Radio 3 and BBC Radio 6.

Rista studied with Oscar Ghiglia at the Chigiana Academy and he pursued Master and postgraduate studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and later completed a second Master’s degree at the Malmö Music Academy (Lund University) with Göran Söllscher and David Hansson. Francesco is an endorser of Aquila Corde Armoniche.

Svanur Vilbergsson has given solo recitals around the world, including in the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, England, Belgium, and Ireland. Numerous composers have written works dedicated to him, and Svanur has been an active advocate for the performance and promotion of new Icelandic contemporary music.

In 2011, Svanur released his first solo album, Four Works, which was met with very positive critical reception. He is a member of the Icelandic Guitar Trio, which was nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards in 2022, and of the Magma Guitar Duo, which specializes in the performance of Icelandic contemporary music.

In 2026, a new solo album featuring Svanur’s guitar playing will be released by the U.S.-based label Sacred Black Records.

Svanur teaches classical guitar, among other subjects, at the Reykjavík College of Music and the Iceland University of the Arts.

Carl Friedrich Abel Prelude

Johann Sebastian Bach Chaconne, BWV 1004 Sarabande, BWV 1009

Jean-Philippe Rameau The Arts and the Hours

Agustín Barrios Mangoré El Último Trémolo La Catedral

Marin Marais Prélude en harpègement: Rondement

Domenico Scarlatti Sonata K. 32

Jean-Philippe Rameau Le Rappel des oiseaux

Felix Mendelssohn Canzonetta

Francesco Rista Cherry Blossom (Icelandic Premiere) with Svanur Vilbergsson