Italian born Alfredo Bernardini studied early music in the Netherlands, where he graduated in 1987. He has since performed all over the world as a member of ensembles such as Hesperion XX, Le Concert des Nations, La Petite Bande, The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, The English Concert, Bach Collegium Japan and others. He has played in more than 100 recordings. In 1989 he founded the ensemble ZEFIRO, which has been awarded important international prizes.

He has been guest director of baroque orchestras all over Europe, in Canada, Australia, Venezuela, Cuba, Israel, with the European Union Baroque Orchestra and Theresia. He is currently professor at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg.