Vicente Zarzo Pitarch is a Spanish horn player who has played as a soloist in several European and North American orchestras. He is also the author of several books on the history and technique of the horn.
In 2004 he was given the Giovanni Punto Award by the International Horn Society and named an "Insigne de la Música Valenciana" by the Academia Valenciana de la Música. The Calle Músico Vicente Zarzo, a street in central Granada is named in his honour.
Works composed for Vicente Zarzo
Quaterni II by Jan van Vlijmen
Sinfónica No. 3 for wind orchestra by Eduardo Mata
Concert for french-horn by Hans Henkemans that was first played in the KRO broadcasting co. by the Radio Hilversum Orchestra conducted by Ed Spanjaard.
Sonata para trompa y piano and Concierto para 4 trompas y orquesta by Amando Blanquer; both works have first been played in the Netherlands, the first one with the piano player Jand vand der Meer and the second with the Radio Hilversum Orchestra conducted by Jan Stulen.
Performances as a soloist
As a french-horn soloist Vicente Zarzo has played with the Orquesta Municipal de Valencia conducted by Manuel Galduf. One of these concerts was the premiere of the Concierto de trompa of the composer Rafael Talens.
He also performed with the Orquesta de Valladolid, directed by Eduardo Díaz Muñoz, the Orquesta de Oviedo directed by Arturo Tamayo and the Orquesta de Tenerife conducted by Armando Alfonso, Francesc Llonguera and Edmon Colomer.
Vicente Zarzo has played with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria conducted by Cervera Collado and Cenura. With La Banda Municipal de Madrid he has performed Concierto num. 1 opus 11 by R.Strauss which was the premiere in Spain performed by french-horn and symphonic band.
He also performed with Orquesta Sinfonica de Port conducted by Luis Antonio García Navarro, with the Philarmonic Orchestra of Groningen conducted by García Navarro and with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid conducted by Antonio Ros Marvá.
Vicente Zarzo performed with the Orquesta Nacional de México conducted by Carlos Chávez and Luis Herrera de la Fuente and with the Orquesta de la Universidad de México conducted by Sasha Popov, founder of 7 of 12 orchestras in Bulgaria.
Vicente Zarzo played with the National Orchestra of Reykjavik, conducted by Wodan Wodiczco, with the Residentie–Orkest of the Hague he played the Concert n. 4 of W.A. Mozart 12 times in the U.S.A. and Canada, conducted by Jean Martinon, 3 concerts in Strasbourg conducted by Hans Vonk, 20 concerts en the Netherlands directed by the Japanese conductor Hiroyuki Iwaki. Two concerts with the Ulster Orchestra of Belfast. He played Concerto n.1 of R.Strauss 3 times in England, conducted by Ferdinand Leitner and twice in Yugoslavia, conducted by Hans Vonk with the Residentie-Orkest. With the same orchestra he played Upon La Mi for soprano, French-horn and orchestra conducted by Mr. Mercier.
The work “Le canyon aux étoiles” for french-horn, piano and orchestra by Olivier Messian was played by Vicente Zarzo and Madame Loriod, the composer’s wife.
Vicente Zarzo played the world premiere of Quaterni II with the Concertgebouw Orkest conducted by Lucas Vis.
Radio recordings
The dutch radio-broadcast recorded 140 concerts, some of them premieres such as; French-horn and harp- violin, French –horn and harp and harp, French-horn and organ. All of these radio recordings were assigned to the duthc audiovisual archive whose manager is Mr. Patrick Ouwens. Also in the Netherlands, the concerts for french-horn and orchestra of Gallay, Pawels, José Muñoz Molleda and the full work for French-horn by Amando Blanquer were recorded.
Commercial recordings
Quintets by Mozart and Beethoven for brass and piano with the well-known piano player Radu Lupu -DECCA 414 219-2
Trio for violin, French-horn and piano, op.40 by J.Brahms -Residentie Orchestra -CD 420 056-2
Soli I for brass quintet and Soli IVfor trumpet, french-horn and trombone by Carlos Chávez - Columbia 31 534
Simphony n.3 with Corno obligato by E. Mata RCA Victor MRS-003
French –horn concerts by P. Hindemith, M. Arnold and Amando Blanquer. Alberri ALS-10.113-A
French-horn music by Amando Blanquer Producciones musicales ML. MI 99-018-CD
