Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

October 11, 1888 in Milan, Italy

Death

:

March 17, 1971 in Lausanne, Switzerland

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Opera

 

Piero Coppola was a renowned Italian conductor and composer who made significant contributions to the world of classical music during the early 20th century. He was born on October 22, 1888, in Naples, Italy, to a family of musicians. His father, Carlo Coppola, was a well-known conductor and composer, and his mother, Maria Gargiulo, was a pianist. Coppola showed an early interest in music and began studying the piano at a young age. He later studied composition and conducting at the Naples Conservatory, where he was a student of Giuseppe Martucci and Luigi Mancinelli. After completing his studies, he began his career as a conductor, working in various Italian opera houses. In 1912, Coppola made his debut as a conductor at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, where he conducted a performance of Verdi's "La Traviata." He quickly gained a reputation as a talented conductor and was soon invited to conduct at other major opera houses in Italy, including La Scala in Milan and the Teatro Regio in Turin. In 1914, Coppola was appointed as the principal conductor of the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, where he remained for several years. During this time, he conducted a number of important premieres, including the Italian premiere of Richard Strauss's "Salome" and the world premiere of Ottorino Respighi's "Belfagor." In 1920, Coppola was invited to conduct at the Paris Opera, where he made his debut with a performance of Verdi's "Aida." He quickly became a favorite of the Parisian audiences and was soon appointed as the principal conductor of the Paris Opera. During his tenure, he conducted a number of important premieres, including the French premiere of Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" and the world premiere of Ravel's "L'Enfant et les Sortilèges." Coppola also had a successful career as a composer, writing a number of operas, ballets, and orchestral works. His most famous composition is the ballet "La Chatte," which was based on a story by Colette and premiered at the Paris Opera in 1927. In addition to his work as a conductor and composer, Coppola was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Paris Conservatory and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where he was appointed as the director in 1944. Coppola's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1971. However, his contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated today. He was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1935 and was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1972. In conclusion, Piero Coppola was a talented and influential conductor and composer who made significant contributions to the world of classical music during the early 20th century. His work as a conductor, composer, and educator continues to be celebrated today, and his legacy lives on through his many recordings and the countless musicians he inspired.

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