AUTHORITATIVE | CURATED | First 500 words Free

• Personalities
• Classical
• Composer
• Modern Era

(El-da-bran’-do Pid-zet’-te) 1880–1968 Italian composer Like many Italian composers of his generation, Pizzetti was more influenced by older music than by the recent Italian past; he was little affected by trends post-Debussy. He wrote in most musical forms, but is best known for his operas. With dignified solo writing rooted in Monteverdi and sonorously effective choral scenes, they ...

• Personalities
• Opera
• Turn of the Century

1863–1938, French D’Annunzio’s most famous influence on music was Debussy’s elaborate incidental music for his extraordinarily long play The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian (1911). In fact, his connections with music were far wider. He was an extravagant eccentric and continually sought the company of musicians. The French pianist Raoul Pugno and the composer Nadia Boulanger collaborated on a setting ...

• Personalities
• Classical
• Composer
• Modern Era

1894–1976 American composer Piston studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger and Dukas, then taught at Harvard University (Leonard Bernstein and Elliott Carter, 1908–2012, were among his pupils), publishing several composition textbooks. His music, including eight symphonies, is neo-classical, athletically energetic and graceful. Recommended Recording: The Incredible Flutist, New York PO (cond) Leonard Bernstein (Sony) ...

• Classical
• Contemporary Classical

European culture lay in ruins after the end of World War II. There were many who, in company with the philosopher Theodor Adorno, felt that Nazi atrocities such as Auschwitz rendered art impossible, at least temporarily. Others, though, felt that humanity could only establish itself anew by rediscovering the potency of art, including opera. On ...