Role

:

Conductor Performer

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

January 2, 1928 in Milan, Italy

Genre

:

Opera

 

Alberto Zedda was a renowned Italian conductor and musicologist who was born on January 2, 1928, in Milan, Italy. He was the son of a lawyer and a pianist, and his family was deeply involved in the arts. Zedda showed an early interest in music and began studying piano at the age of six. He later studied composition and conducting at the Milan Conservatory, where he graduated with honors. After completing his studies, Zedda began his career as a conductor, working with various opera companies in Italy and abroad. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled interpreter of the works of Rossini, Donizetti, and other Italian composers of the bel canto era. In 1957, he made his debut at La Scala in Milan, conducting a production of Rossini's "La Cenerentola." Over the course of his career, Zedda conducted many of the world's leading orchestras and opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Vienna State Opera. He was particularly known for his interpretations of Rossini's operas, which he approached with a deep understanding of the composer's style and intentions. In addition to his work as a conductor, Zedda was also a respected musicologist and scholar. He published numerous articles and books on the music of Rossini and other composers of the bel canto era, and was widely regarded as one of the leading experts on this period of music history. One of Zedda's most notable achievements was his work on the critical edition of Rossini's operas. In the 1970s, he was invited by the Rossini Foundation in Pesaro to oversee the publication of a new edition of the composer's works, based on the original manuscripts and other primary sources. Zedda spent many years working on this project, and his editions of Rossini's operas are now considered the standard versions used by performers and scholars around the world. Zedda's contributions to the world of classical music were recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1992, he was awarded the Rossini Prize by the Rossini Foundation in Pesaro, in recognition of his work on the critical edition of the composer's operas. He was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon an Italian citizen. Zedda continued to work as a conductor and musicologist well into his later years. He passed away on March 6, 2017, at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy of scholarship and artistry that continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.

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