Riccardo Frizza was born in Brescia in 1971 and studied at the Academy of Music in Milan, in Pescara and in Verona, from 1996 to 1999 furthering his studies with Gianluigi Gelmetti at the Chigiana Academy in Siena.
In 1998 he won the International Competition of the South Bohemia State Philharmonic Conductors (Czech Republic) and from 1994 to 2000 was conductor-in-residence with the Brescia Symphony Orchestra.
He made his operatic début with Donizetti’s Convenienze e inconvenienze teatrali, going on to direct repertoire from Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti and Verdi to Martinů. He has been a guest at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, the Spoleto Due Mondi Festival and major festivals in Martina Franca, Parma, Verona, Brescia and Stresa, with guest engagements in Fano, Busseto, Bergamo, Rome, Bologna, Turin, Genoa and Florence.
His career has brought appearances throughout Europe and as far afield as Tokyo and Osaka, with a parallel career in the concert hall and recording studio.