Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Giovanni Malipiero was an Italian composer and musicologist who was born on March 18, 1882, in Venice, Italy. He was the son of Francesco Malipiero, a well-known lawyer and amateur musician, and his wife, Adele. From a young age, Giovanni showed a keen interest in music and began studying the piano and composition with his father. In 1900, Malipiero enrolled at the Venice Conservatory, where he studied composition with Marco Enrico Bossi and Antonio Smareglia. He also studied counterpoint and fugue with Luigi Torchi and orchestration with Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. During his time at the conservatory, Malipiero became interested in the music of the Italian Renaissance and began researching and transcribing works from this period. After completing his studies at the conservatory, Malipiero worked as a music critic for several Italian newspapers and magazines. He also began composing his own music, which was heavily influenced by the music of the Italian Renaissance and the works of Claudio Monteverdi. In 1913, Malipiero's first major work, the opera "La favola del figlio cambiato," premiered in Venice to critical acclaim. The opera, which was based on a play by Carlo Gozzi, was praised for its innovative use of harmony and orchestration. Over the next few years, Malipiero continued to compose operas, including "L'Orfeo" (1917) and "Il figliuol prodigo" (1920). He also began to gain recognition as a musicologist, publishing several books on the music of the Italian Renaissance. In 1923, Malipiero was appointed professor of composition at the Venice Conservatory, a position he held until 1952. During this time, he continued to compose and publish music, including several symphonies, chamber works, and operas. One of Malipiero's most famous works is his "Symphony No. 1," which premiered in 1924. The symphony, which is based on themes from the music of the Italian Renaissance, was praised for its originality and innovative use of harmony and orchestration. In 1932, Malipiero was awarded the prestigious Italian National Prize for Music for his contributions to Italian music. He was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1952. Malipiero continued to compose and publish music throughout the 1940s and 1950s, including several more symphonies and operas. In 1956, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the City of Venice for his contributions to the arts. Malipiero died on August 1, 1973, in Treviso, Italy, at the age of 91. He is remembered as one of the most important composers and musicologists of the 20th century, and his works continue to be performed and studied by musicians and scholars around the world.

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