Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1941

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

Dinu Ghezzo was a Romanian-born American composer, conductor, and educator who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on December 28, 1925, in Bucharest, Romania, to a family of musicians. His father, Ion Ghezzo, was a composer and conductor, and his mother, Maria Ghezzo, was a pianist. Dinu Ghezzo showed an early interest in music and began studying piano and composition at a young age. Ghezzo's musical education continued at the Bucharest Conservatory, where he studied composition with Mihail Jora and conducting with George Enescu. He also studied piano with Florica Musicescu, who was a renowned teacher and mentor to many Romanian pianists, including Dinu Lipatti. Ghezzo's studies were interrupted by World War II, and he was forced to flee Romania in 1944 due to the political situation. After the war, Ghezzo settled in Italy, where he continued his musical studies at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He also worked as a pianist and conductor in various Italian opera houses. In 1949, Ghezzo immigrated to the United States, where he continued his studies at the Juilliard School in New York City. He studied composition with Vincent Persichetti and conducting with Jean Morel. Ghezzo's career as a composer began to take off in the 1950s, when he won several awards and commissions for his works. In 1952, he won the George Gershwin Memorial Award for his Piano Concerto No. 1, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Dimitri Mitropoulos. In 1954, he won the Prix de Rome, which allowed him to study in Italy for two years. During this time, he composed several works, including his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the Rome Symphony Orchestra in 1956. Ghezzo's music is characterized by its lyricism, rhythmic vitality, and colorful orchestration. He was influenced by a variety of musical styles, including Romanian folk music, jazz, and the music of Stravinsky and Bartok. His works include orchestral music, chamber music, vocal music, and music for the theater. Some of his most notable works include his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1960, his Concerto for Orchestra, which was premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1963, and his opera The Death of Don Juan, which was premiered by the New York City Opera in 1974. In addition to his work as a composer, Ghezzo was also a respected conductor and educator. He conducted many orchestras in the United States and Europe, including the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also taught at several universities, including the University of Michigan, the University of Southern California, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He was known for his dedication to his students and his ability to inspire them to achieve their full potential. Ghezzo's contributions to the world of classical music were recognized with many awards and honors. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. He received the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for his book The Technique of Orchestration in 1966. He was also awarded the Romanian Order of Merit in 2000 for his contributions to Romanian culture. Dinu Ghezzo passed away on December 3, 2010, at the age of 84. He left behind a legacy of music that continues to inspire and delight audiences around the world.

More....