Forastiere is a former classical guitarist (6 and 10 strings) having graduated from Santa Cecilia Conservatory, considered the most prestigious school of music in all of Rome. Fifteen years ago Forastiere changed his stylistic direction from composing on classical nylon-stringed guitar toward that created on steel-stringed instruments (especially a 1957 Martin D-28 bought in Rome). Since that time he has performed regularly at concerts and festivals throughout Europe, the US and Canada for both classical and fingerstyle audiences. He has been interviewed on radio stations and by media outlets wherever he has toured, and his interviewees focus not only on his musical background and his amazing compositions, but also attempt to glean insight into his inimitable technical prowess which is revered in the eyes of guitarists and musicians worldwide. His technical gifts and unique and complex music are so rare that there are no precedents in the musical world as we know it.
In 2012, at the New York Guitar Festival, Forastiere unveiled “from 1 to 8”, a collection of eight studies for contemporary acoustic guitar focusing on different technical and compositional aspects. In 2010/11 and 2013/14 he toured with the International Guitar Night (US and Canada). His fifth solo album, and ninth of his discography, “Deconstruction,” was released in January 2015.
In the Italian language, ‘Forastiere’ means foreigner, stranger. By no means should any listener be a stranger to this great music.