Luca Mereu (1963) is active as a composer and professional guitar- and mandolinist. He obtained his diploma for Classical guitar at the "Santa Cecilia" Conservatory of Rome and his diploma Classical mandolin at the "Alfredo Casella" Conservatory of L'Aquila. Besides this he was taught composition by Mauro Bortolotti and computer music with Michelangelo Lupone. His compositions among which are published by Berben, Cantoberon, Domani Musica, are regularly performed by several chamber music groups, such as the “Ensemble Colosseum” and the “Trio Phorbeia”. His works are also recorded on several compact discs among which are the “San Paolo Audiovisivi” and broadcasted by the Vatican Radio.
Luca Mereu was awarded an ex-aequo and only prize at the Third International Competition on Plectrum Orchestra Music Composition held by the Italian Mandolin Federation. Other compositions have been recommended at the Sixth International Competition on Guitar Composition held by the Centro Chitarristico Toscano in 1997, and at the first National Competition on Piano Composition held by the De Musica Association in 1995. Mereu has devoted himself to compose music for plectrum groups and orchestras, and to research work into the mandolin literature. Beside his activities as a composer Luca Mereu is a well-known performer on the mandolin, mandola and guitar.
And this has till now resulted in fine CD recordings of the Hoffmann and Giuliani Quartets (CNT.IT1006), a great CD with Six Sonatas for mandolin and guitar by Gabriele Leone, on which he plays together with the guitarist Fabio Fasane (NIC1040 NICCOLO), the CD “Opere per strumenti a plettro” on which all compositions composed by Luca Mereu are recorded and the CD “ Serenata Passacaglia” (CDS 0153 (III Millennio) on which a combination of pieces by various composers is performed by the ´Ensemble Mereuer´. This plectrum group consists of Sonia Maurer and Emanuele Buzi on mandolin, Luca Mereu on mandola, Corrado Celeste on guitar and Willem Peci on Contrabass. As guitarist Luca Mereu can be heard together with Calogero Glallanza on flute on the splendid CD “Mediterranea” (CNT.IT1002).

Luca Mereu´s acquaintance with HET CONSORT dates from the summer of 2003 when the Mandolin Chamber Orchestra ´HET CONSORT´ gave - on the invitation by Dr. Marco Chiappini, Director of the Museo della Liuteria “Embergher-Cerrone” - a concert in the honour of the instrument makers of Arpino at the Piazza Municipio in Arpino (Fr) and at the Festival Internazionale di Musica Classica at Villa d´Este in Tivoli (near Rome), a concert that was made possible for us by our friends of the Orchestra Mandolinistica Romana and it´s president Daniele Schiavetti. For the concert in the Famous Villa d´Este we were asked by Mr. Schiavetti to perform Luca Mereu´s composition ´Ballando´ for Mandolin Chamber Orchestra. Although not knowing what to expect we accepted the offer and got the music just in time before the Italian tournee started. We studied the parts - even during the tour - and found out that the music was not only very well written but just beautiful as well. After the premiere Luca Mereu liked our performance so much that he dedicated his composition ´Ballando´ to HET CONSORT. Since then another fine work containing a very appealing mandola solo titled ´Peasaggio Arabo´ was composed and dedicated to us.

Alex Timmerman ©2000.