Role

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Composer

Period

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Modern

Genre

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Vocal

 

Salvatore (Salve) D'Esposito was born on January 1, 1950, in Naples, Italy. He was the youngest of four children and grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. His siblings were also musically inclined, with his older brother playing the cello and his two sisters playing the violin and piano. D'Esposito showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. He quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument and began taking lessons from his mother. By the age of six, he was already performing in public, and by the age of ten, he had composed his first piece of music. In 1960, D'Esposito's family moved to Rome, where he continued his musical education. He studied piano with the renowned pianist and composer, Bruno Canino, and composition with the composer, Goffredo Petrassi. He also studied conducting with Franco Ferrara and attended masterclasses with Leonard Bernstein and Pierre Boulez. D'Esposito's early compositions were influenced by the music of the Second Viennese School, particularly the works of Arnold Schoenberg and Alban Berg. However, he soon developed his own unique style, which combined elements of serialism, minimalism, and traditional tonality. In 1972, D'Esposito won first prize in the International Gaudeamus Competition for Young Composers for his piece, "Quartetto per archi." This brought him international recognition and led to commissions from major orchestras and ensembles. One of D'Esposito's most significant works is his opera, "La notte di San Lorenzo," which premiered in 1982 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The opera is based on the true story of a group of Italian partisans who were executed by the Nazis during World War II. The opera was praised for its powerful music and emotional impact and established D'Esposito as one of Italy's leading composers. D'Esposito's other notable works include his "Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra," which was premiered by Martha Argerich and the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in 1988, and his "Quartetto per archi n. 2," which was premiered by the Arditti Quartet in 1992. In addition to his work as a composer, D'Esposito was also a respected conductor. He served as the principal conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI from 1994 to 1997 and conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. D'Esposito continued to compose and perform until his death in 2007 at the age of 57. His music remains an important part of the contemporary classical repertoire and is admired for its emotional depth, technical skill, and unique blend of modern and traditional elements.

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