Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1975 in Venice, Italy

 

Mauro Lanza is a contemporary Italian composer who was born on October 16, 1975, in Venice, Italy. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a composer and his mother a pianist. Lanza started playing the piano at a young age and later studied composition at the Conservatory of Venice, where he graduated with honors. Lanza's early works were influenced by the music of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as by the works of contemporary composers such as Luciano Berio and György Ligeti. His compositions often incorporate electronic and computer-generated sounds, as well as unconventional instruments and techniques. One of Lanza's most notable works is his opera "Le Prigioni del Canto" (The Prisons of Singing), which premiered in 2010 at the Venice Biennale. The opera is based on the life of the Italian composer Carlo Gesualdo, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries and was known for his unconventional and often dissonant music. Lanza's opera explores Gesualdo's life and music through a series of surreal and dreamlike scenes, with the singers often performing from within cages or other confined spaces. Another notable work by Lanza is his "The 5th Wheel" for ensemble and electronics, which was commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain and premiered in 2014. The piece is inspired by the concept of the "fifth wheel," which refers to an unnecessary or superfluous addition to a group or situation. Lanza's composition explores this idea through a series of contrasting musical textures and timbres, with the electronic sounds often serving as a disruptive force within the ensemble. Lanza has also collaborated with a number of other artists and musicians, including the visual artist Alessandro Brighetti and the percussionist Simone Beneventi. His works have been performed by ensembles and orchestras around the world, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Ensemble Modern, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition to his work as a composer, Lanza is also a professor of composition at the Conservatory of Venice. He has taught masterclasses and workshops at institutions around the world, including the Royal Academy of Music in London and the University of California, San Diego. Overall, Mauro Lanza is a composer who has made significant contributions to the contemporary classical music scene through his innovative and unconventional works. His music often explores complex and abstract concepts, while also incorporating elements of humor and playfulness. With his unique approach to composition and his ongoing collaborations with other artists and musicians, Lanza continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in contemporary classical music.

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