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Fabio Maffei is a contemporary classical music composer born on October 22, 1978, in Milan, Italy. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a pianist and his mother a singer. Maffei started playing the piano at the age of six and began composing his own music at the age of 12. Maffei's passion for music led him to study at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan, where he earned a degree in composition. He continued his studies at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where he studied with renowned composers such as Azio Corghi and Ivan Fedele. Maffei's early works were heavily 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 combines elements of serialism, minimalism, and spectralism. One of Maffei's early works, "String Quartet No. 1," was premiered in 2003 by the Arditti Quartet at the Venice Biennale. The piece is characterized by its use of microtonality and its complex rhythmic structures. It was well-received by critics and established Maffei as a promising young composer. In 2005, Maffei was awarded the prestigious Gaudeamus Prize for his work "Lichtung II." The piece, which was commissioned by the Gaudeamus Foundation, is scored for large ensemble and features a solo cello. It is notable for its use of extended techniques and its exploration of the relationship between sound and silence. Maffei's music has been performed by some of the world's leading ensembles, including the Ensemble Intercontemporain, the London Sinfonietta, and the Ensemble Modern. He has also collaborated with a number of prominent soloists, including cellist Anssi Karttunen and pianist Marino Formenti. One of Maffei's most acclaimed works is "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered in 2010 by the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI. The piece is characterized by its virtuosic piano writing and its use of complex rhythmic patterns. It has been described as a "tour de force" and has been performed by pianists such as Nicolas Hodges and Pierre-Laurent Aimard. Maffei's music often explores philosophical and literary themes. His work "Lichtung III," for example, is inspired by the writings of Martin Heidegger and explores the concept of "clearing" or "open space." Similarly, his piece "Infinite Present," which was commissioned by the Venice Biennale in 2015, is inspired by the writings of Jorge Luis Borges and explores the idea of time as a cyclical and infinite phenomenon. Maffei's music has been praised for its intellectual depth and its emotional power. His work "Lichtung I," for example, is a hauntingly beautiful piece for solo cello that explores the relationship between sound and silence. It has been described as "a meditation on the fragility of existence" and has been performed by cellists such as Jean-Guihen Queyras and Alisa Weilerstein. In addition to his work as a composer, Maffei is also a respected musicologist and has written extensively on the music of the 20th and 21st centuries. He has taught at a number of institutions, including the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan and the University of California, Berkeley. Maffei's music continues to be performed and recorded by ensembles and soloists around the world.

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