Massimo Di Gesu is an Italian composer, born in 1970.

Massimo Di Gesu (2010)

Academic studies

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At the Milan Conservatory Di Gesu attained the Diploma in Piano in 1992, and the Diploma in Composition in 1995. He studied composition with Bruno Bettinelli,[1][2] and piano with Jole Mantegazza and Anita Porrini, one of Cortot's and Benedetti Michelangeli's pupils.[3] Besides further piano studies with Valerio Premuroso, he attended post-graduate composition courses at the Petrassi Academy (Parma), at the University of Central England (Birmingham), and at the University of Leeds.[4]

Style

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His approach to composition (alien to fashionable currents,[5] and based on a distinctly atonal harmonic idiom[4]) focuses on the symbols hidden in the syntax of sounds.[6][7] His language is characterised by the search for a perceptible attraction, according to what he himself refers to as the "principle of necessity",[8] linking the elements of the musical narrative[3][5] as an ineludible condition of its vitality, i.e. significance.[8]

Partnerships and collaborations

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Di Gesu's debut at La Scala Theatre took place in May 2013, when La Scala String Quartet premiered his "Verdigo",[9][10] [11] a work which the ensemble had commissioned on the occasion of the bicentennial of Giuseppe Verdi's birth. La Scala String Quartet had already played Di Gesu's works such as "Ansikte mot ansikte" (for Serate Musicali - Milano, and Ente Concerti Pesaro[12]) and "WOLFiliGrANG" (at the Rovereto Mozart Festival[13]).

In 2014 the Teatro La Fenice (Venice) commissioned from him "Luci d'estate" which was premiered by the Ex Novo Ensemble in July of the same year.[14][15]

Other artistic partners of Di Gesu's are

Further fields of interest

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Poems by Di Gesu, such as “La vita è un sogno”[21] and “Al giardino”,[22] have been recited by Maria Brivio and Federika Brivio within the radio broadcast, Diamo l’Abbrivio.[23]

Computer-based drawings of his appear on the cover of the CD “PianOLYPHONY”[16] recorded by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni (Foxglove Audio - FOX091), and in the score of “Geometria di un diletto” (edition db).[3][5][4]

Partial list of works

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  • iridHESSEnza (2024) for flute and guitar[24]
  • A view from the pier (2020) for string orchestra[2]
  • Lilith (2020) for piano[6]
  • Rima petrosa (2019) for piano[1][8]
  • Das Eisemeer (2018) for piano[1][25]
  • Fulgida (2018) for piano[1][25]
  • Dionisiaco (2016) for piano[1][25]
  • Verdigo (2013) for string quartet[9][26]
  • Im Tempo eines Walzers (2012) for wind quintet and string quintet[25]
  • Aristocanto (2012) for voice and piano[25]
  • Geometria di un diletto (2011) for flute, clarinet, cello[25]
  • Omaggio a Novaro (2011) for flute and piano[25]
  • Sonata in 'F.' (2009) for cello and piano[20][25]
  • Music stamps (2006) for piano[25]
  • Through a glass... (2001) for piano[25]
  • Schegge (2001) for violin, cello, piano[5]
  • Trilogia dell'assenza (1999-2000) for piano[25]
  • Ansikte mot ansikte (1995-2000) for string quartet[25]
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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Cresti, Renzo (2019-2021). Musica e presente Tendenze e compositori di oggi. Lucca: LIM, pp. 775–776. ISBN 9788855430012
  2. ^ a b "Archi Magazine - Una prima esecuzione di Massimo Di Gesu per I Virtuosi Italiani". Archi Magazine. 31 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e "CEMAT - composers - Di Gesu". CEMAT. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  4. ^ a b c d "edition db - Di Gesu". edition db.
  5. ^ a b c d e "ARCTURUS - Di Gesu". Arcturus. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  6. ^ a b "Only Stage - Di Gesu". Only Stage.
  7. ^ Principe, Quirino -2 June 2013- "La Scala rinnovata dai giovani" Sole 24 ore
  8. ^ a b c "Bradley-Fulgoni, Peter. Composer and performer: rationale, aim, achievement of a collaborative path in the musical arena of the post-WW2 avant-garde. "Review of Artistic Education" number 27 - 2024 - pp. 149-155 - chapter 8" (PDF). "George Enescu" National University of Arts, Iasi, Romania.
  9. ^ a b "la Repubblica - Quartetto Scala 27/05/2013". la Repubblica. 27 May 2013.
  10. ^ "Archivio Corriere della Sera".
  11. ^ "Quartetto d'archi della Scala - Teatro alla Scala". Archived from the original on 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  12. ^ http://www.adnkronos.com/Archivio/AdnAgenzia/2003/08/20/Spettacolo/Musica/MUSICA-MARCHE-QUARTETTO-SCALA-A-PESARO_151000.php - AdnKronos
  13. ^ a b "MozartFestivalRovereto". MFR. Archived from the original on 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  14. ^ http://archiviostorico.teatrolafenice.it/immagini/locandine/2014/07/b0d_2014-07-11.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  15. ^ a b "CIDIM - COMITATO NAZIONALE ITALIANO MUSICA".
  16. ^ a b "PianOLYPHONY" (PDF). Peter Bradley-Fulgoni.
  17. ^ http://www.propostefair.it/download/1-proposte-2012-20yearsofsuccess.pdf[permanent dead link] - Proposte 2012
  18. ^ http://www.propostefair.it/download/proposte2011-final-press-release.pdf[permanent dead link] - Proposte 2011
  19. ^ a b c "Eurasian Editions - Di Gesu". Eurasian Editions.
  20. ^ a b "Filarmonica di Trento". Trentino Cultura.
  21. ^ Maria Brivio; minute 43:00, Itinerari di Cupido (8/2/23), Radio Itineraria{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Maria Brivio; Federika Brivio; minute 50:48, GreenBrivios (26/4/23), Radio Itineraria{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Diamo l’Abbrivio (2023), Diamo l'Abbrivio, Radio Itineraria
  24. ^ "OHH! OMAGGIO A HERMANN HESSE – mostra di mail art". PoesiaPresente. 4 May 2024.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "IMSLP - Di Gesu". IMSLP.
  26. ^ "archivio Scala". Teatro alla Scala. 27 May 2013.