Role

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Composer

Birth

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1968

 

Alberto Colla was an Italian composer born on December 22, 1968, in Milan, Italy. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a pianist and his mother a singer. Colla started playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He later studied composition at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan, where he graduated with honors. Colla's early works were influenced by the music of the Second Viennese School, particularly the works of Arnold Schoenberg and Alban Berg. He was also influenced by the music of Italian composers such as Luciano Berio and Luigi Nono. Colla's music is characterized by its complexity and use of extended techniques, such as microtonality and aleatoric elements. One of Colla's early works, "Cantata per la fine di un mondo" (Cantata for the End of a World), was written in 1992 and premiered at the Venice Biennale. The piece is a reflection on the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall. It features a large ensemble of instruments, including a choir, and incorporates elements of spoken word and electronic music. In 1994, Colla was awarded the prestigious Gaudeamus Prize for his work "L'angelo necessario" (The Necessary Angel). The piece is a setting of a text by the Italian poet Giuseppe Ungaretti and features a soprano soloist and chamber ensemble. The work is notable for its use of microtonality and its exploration of the relationship between text and music. Colla's music continued to gain recognition throughout the 1990s and 2000s. In 2001, he was awarded the Premio Abbiati, the highest honor for classical music in Italy, for his work "La terra e l'ombra" (The Earth and the Shadow). The piece is a setting of a text by the Colombian poet Gonzalo Arango and features a large ensemble of instruments, including a choir and percussion. Colla's later works continued to explore new musical territories. In 2010, he wrote "L'infinito dentro di noi" (The Infinity Within Us), a piece for orchestra and electronics that explores the concept of infinity. The work features a large orchestra and incorporates electronic sounds and live processing. Colla's final work, "Il canto della pietra" (The Song of the Stone), was completed in 2017, just months before his untimely death at the age of 48. The piece is a setting of a text by the Italian poet Andrea Zanzotto and features a soprano soloist and chamber ensemble. The work is notable for its use of extended techniques, such as microtonality and glissandi, and its exploration of the relationship between text and music. Throughout his career, Colla was known for his innovative approach to composition and his willingness to explore new musical territories. His music has been performed by some of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Ensemble Intercontemporain. Colla's legacy as a composer continues to inspire new generations of musicians and composers.

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