Biography
Maria Barbieri is an Italian guitarist with a versatile style spanning Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Rock, Fusion, Pop, Ambient, and Metal. [Read full bio →]
She has built a strong international profile as a touring and session musician, performing in TV productions, theatre shows, big bands, and live acts across Europe.
In 2025, Maria was the lead guitarist in one of Denmark’s acclaimed productions of We Will Rock You – The Musical by Queen & Elton, performing 88 shows in the country’s top theatres as part of a stellar production.
In 2023, she joined the British progressive rock band Big Big Train, contributing to the album A Flare On The Lens, released by Inside Out Music, and touring extensively.
"There is a wonderful woman named Maria Barbieri that plays 'Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part Two.' She’s doing a great job. If I had known her before, I would have called her."
She is endorsed by Suhr Guitars, a leading boutique guitar manufacturer, and was named Best New Band Artist by Prog Magazine in 2025. Her playing has earned praise from icons such as Robert Fripp and Steven Wilson.
Maria integrates seamlessly into diverse projects and thrives in high-level musical environments where quality is paramount. Fans and critics alike appreciate her sonic elegance and tasteful, balanced approach as a session guitarist.
Currently, Maria continues to perform across various musical contexts while developing her solo artistic project. She is working on her debut solo album and has already released two singles — A Peaceful Place and Guitar Dance In The Morning — featuring exceptional guest musicians, available on all major streaming platforms.
Open to new collaborations and projects that challenge her creatively and value musical integrity, Maria is eager to expand her artistic horizons.
"The choice of members is not arbitrary. This King Crimson I saw on the evening of June 22, 2013 had seven musicians. They were individual, specific musicians, and they were all men. If they had all been women, I would have made the phone calls. But they weren't. Are we open to women members of the band? Sure, if they're the right women in the right time, right place and right circumstance. And there is a wonderful woman named Maria Barbieri that plays “Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part Two.” But she didn't spring to mind on June 22, 2013. If she had, I would have made the call. She’s doing a great job."
Discography
Solo
- Guitar Dance In The Morning – 2023
Collaborators: Nick Beggs, Larry Crowe, Enzo Buono, Lenny Castro - A Peaceful Place – 2024
Collaborators: Mohini Dey, Larry Crowe, Luca Di Gennaro
Album
- Guitars - A Flare On The Lens – Big Big Train (Inside Out Music)
- Guitars - Guest - The 2nd Coming – Luca Di Gennaro
Credits
A Flare On The Lens – Big Big Train, Sony Music, Inside Out Music Maria Barbieri's credits on Discogs
"It’s funny, there’s an Italian guitarist who’s learned that solo. She’s called Maria Barbieri, an amazing guitar player. She’s transcribed that guitar solo and she can play it exactly: I could never play it again! (laughs) Never! It’s amazing to see someone else transcribe it. She could probably tell you what I’m doing better than I could."
References
- Classic Rock - Un treno preso al volo
- The fundamentals of sound, the inspiration and capacity to communicate with an instrumental technique
- Maria Barbieri: un Viaggio tra Turnismo e Rock Progressive
- KULTUR Information - We Will Rock You: The Musical Review
- Big Big Train enlist guitarist Maria Barbieri to cover for Dave Foster
- A Flare On The Lens – Big Big Train Official
- A Flare On The Lens – Album Review | The Prog Report
- Coi King Crimson non si sa mai: 50 anni di Robert Fripp, un modo di fare le cose | laStampa.it
- Steven Wilson Interview EXCLUSIVE | guitarguitar
- Osanna, prog mediterraneo per i 50 anni de L’uomo | cronachedi.it
- King Crimson - Sheer Visceral Power | Innerviews: Music Without Borders
- guitarthrills.com - The Resonance of Roots: How Heritage Shapes Every Musician