Daniel Zapico, theorbo

Born in Langreo (Asturias, Spain), he directed his studies toward early music from a young age and began specializing in the theorbo at the Professional Conservatory of Music in his hometown. He completed his undergraduate studies with the highest honors at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) under Xavier Díaz-Latorre. Subsequently, he earned a Master’s Degree in Musicology, Music Education, and Early Music Performance at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, receiving the unanimous commendation of the panel for his project on Robert de Visée.

Au monde, his critically acclaimed solo album featuring his own theorbo transcriptions of French Baroque music, captured the hearts of audiences and international critics alike. Honored with the highest accolades from the specialized press — including the Diapason d’Or, ffff de Télérama, and 5 Stars in Pizzicato, Melómano, and Ritmo magazines —, the album was also nominated for the MIN Awards and ICMA Awards in the categories of "Best Solo Album" and "Baroque Instrumental", respectively. This intensive work as a soloist has led him to give recitals across European and international venues, tracing a distinct path within the theorbo repertoire.

As a founding member of the ensemble Forma Antiqva, he has performed at leading international festivals over more than two decades of uninterrupted activity. The group was named "Best Baroque Music Group" and "Best Recording Production" by GEMA (Association of Spanish Early Music Groups) and received the MIN Award for "Best Classical Music Album" for Concerto Zapico Vol. 2.

He also maintains a prominent chamber music presence in duo format. Alongside his brother Pablo Zapico (archlute), he released the album The Filippo Dalla Casa Collection for the Winter & Winter label, maintaining a busy concert schedule centered on the plucked string repertoire. With countertenor Carlos Mena, he maintains a close collaboration in recitals such as La nouvelle musique, exploring 17th-century accompanied monody.

He collaborates regularly with La Ritirata (dir. Josetxu Obregón) — recipient of the El Ojo Crítico award and the Premio de Cultura de la Comunidad de Madrid — and with the Belgian ensemble Ricercar Consort (dir. Philippe Pierlot), with whom he performs at prestigious venues and festivals such as the White Light Festival at Lincoln Center in New York and La Folle Journée (Nantes, Yekaterinburg, and Tokyo).

His close collaboration with creator Nina Laisné led him to participate in the production Romances inciertos, un autre Orlando, giving over one hundred performances at venues including the Festival d’Avignon and the Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris. From this partnership emerged creations such as Arca ostinata — an innovative miniature opera for solo theorbo premiered in Annecy and presented at the Centre Pompidou and the Arsenal in Metz — and, more recently, Último helecho, continuing a deep shared ongoing musical and scenic exploration.

Daniel Zapico also collaborates with prominent figures on the international music scene, including Leonardo García Alarcón (Cappella Mediterranea), Benjamin Bayl (Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra), Attilio Cremonesi (Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice), Andrea De Carlo (Ensemble Mare Nostrum), Maxim Emelyanychev (Il Pomo d’Oro), Riccardo Muti, Christina Pluhar (L’Arpeggiata), and Judith Steenbrink (Holland Baroque).

He has been honored as "Asturiano del Mes" by the newspaper La Nueva España, and has received the "Grupo del Año" award from RTPA, the Premios de la Música en Asturias, the Premio Serondaya to Cultural Innovation, and the Gold Medal of the Foro Europeo Cum Laude.