Lorenzo Ferrero
Lorenzo Ferrero is an Italian composer, librettist, author, and book editor. He started composing at an early age and has written over a hundred compositions thus far, including twelve operas, three ballets, and numerous orchestral, chamber music, solo instrumental, and vocal works. His musical idiom is characterized by eclecticism, stylistic versatility, and a neo-tonal language.
Biography
Born in Turin, he studied composition from 1969 to 1973 with Massimo Bruni and Enore Zaffiri at Turin Music Conservatory, and philosophy with Gianni Vattimo and Massimo Mila at the University of Turin, earning a degree in aesthetics with a thesis on John Cage in 1974.His early interest in the psychology of perception and psychoacoustics led him to IMEB, the International Electroacoustic Music Institute of Bourges, where he did research on electronic music between 1972 and 1973, IRCAM in Paris, and to the Musik/Dia/Licht/Film Galerie in Munich in 1974.
Lorenzo Ferrero has received commissions from numerous festivals and institutions, his works being constantly performed throughout Europe and North America, particularly in Italy, Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, and the United States.
His most popular compositions include the operas Marilyn, La figlia del mago, Salvatore Giuliano, Charlotte Corday, La Conquista, and Risorgimento!, the first Piano Concerto, the Concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra, the set of six symphonic poems La Nueva España, the song cycle Canzoni d'amore, the Capriccio for Piano and String Orchestra, Parodia, Ostinato, Glamorama Spies, Tempi di quartetto for string quartet, and the ballet Franca Florio, regina di Palermo. In 1986 he participated in the Prix Italia with his work La fuga di Foscolo. His music is published by Casa Ricordi, Milan.
As an active manager of art events, he has served as artistic director of the Festival Puccini in Torre del Lago, "Unione Musicale" in Turin, Arena di Verona Festival, and the "Musica 2000" fair. In 1999 he co-founded and coordinated the "Festa della Musica", a showcase of classical, jazz and world music held in Milan, and four years later he managed the Ravello Festival.
In 2007 Lorenzo Ferrero was appointed to the board of directors and elected vice-president of SIAE, the Italian Authors and Publishers Association. That same year he published the Manuale di scrittura musicale, a manual which describes the basic rules of correct and elegant music writing from the orthographic as well as the graphic point of view, which is addressed to all composers, musicologists, teachers, students and copy-editors in need of practical advice. In 2008 he translated, edited and published Lo studio dell'orchestrazione, the Italian edition of Samuel Adler's The Study of Orchestration, a landmark orchestration manual.
Lorenzo Ferrero was professor of composition at Milan Conservatory from 1980 to 2016. His teaching appointments also include positions at St. Mary's College of Maryland and LUISS Business School, a division of LUISS Guido Carli University of Rome. Moreover, as a member of the Italian National Union of Composers, Librettists and Authors he co-founded ECSA, the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance, and between 2011 and 2017 he was president of CIAM, the International Council of Music Authors. In 2017, he was appointed honorary president of CIAM.
Lorenzo Ferrero was described in The New Grove Dictionary of Opera as "the most successful opera composer of his generation in Italy" and in The New Penguin Opera Guide as "a principal exponent of the neo-tonal tendencies common to a number of Italian composers of his generation, who has championed a brand of narrative music-theatre that aims to capture a wider audience than that achieved by the heirs of the modernist tradition."
Works
In addition to the original works listed below, Lorenzo Ferrero completed the orchestration of the third version of the opera La rondine by Giacomo Puccini, which was subsequently premiered at Teatro Regio di Torino on 22 March 1994. With a group of six other Italian composers, he wrote the Requiem per le vittime della mafia, a collaborative composition for soloists, choir and orchestra on an Italian text by Vincenzo Consolo. The requiem was first performed in the Palermo Cathedral on 27 March 1993. Furthermore, he wrote the music for the Sestriere [FIS FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1997|Alpine World Ski Championships 1997|Alpine World Ski Championships] opening ceremony of 1997 including the official anthem, incidental music for stage productions, and a film score. British musicologist David Osmond-Smith described his style as "an unabashed synthesis of classical traditions and pop that never forgets its 19th-century precursors."Opera
Rimbaud, ou Le Fils du soleil, quasi un melodramma in three actsMarilyn, scenes from the '50s in two actsLa figlia del mago, giocodramma melodioso in two actsMare nostro, comic opera in two actsNight, opera in one actSalvatore Giuliano, opera in one actCharlotte Corday, opera in three actsLe Bleu-blanc-rouge et le noir, marionette operaLa nascita di Orfeo, musical action in one actLa Conquista, opera in two actsLe piccole storie: Ai margini delle guerre, chamber opera in one actRisorgimento!, opera in one actBallet
Invito a nozze, balletLotus Eaters, balletFranca Florio, regina di Palermo, ballet in two actsOrchestral music
Ellipse IV , for folk ensemble ad libitumRomanza seconda, for bassoon and stringsArioso, for orchestra and live electronicsArioso II, for large orchestraBalletto, for orchestraMy Blues, for string orchestraThema 44 , for small orchestraOmbres, for orchestra and live electronicsThe Miracle, suite for orchestra Intermezzo notturno from Mare nostro, for small orchestra Intermezzo "Portella della Ginestra" from Salvatore Giuliano, for orchestraFour Modern Dances, for small orchestraZaubermarsch, for small orchestra- Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Paesaggio con figura, for small orchestra
- Concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra Palm Beach Overture, for orchestra
- Capriccio for Piano and String Orchestra Three Baroque Buildings, for bassoon, trumpet, and stringsChampionship Suite, for large orchestraStorie di neve, music for the Alpine World Ski Championships opening ceremonyLa Nueva España, a set of six symphonic poems
- * La ruta de Cortés
- * La noche triste
- * Memoria del fuego
- * Presagios
- * El encuentro
- * La matanza del Templo Mayor Rastrelli in Saint Petersburg, for oboe and string orchestraTwo Cathedrals in the South, for trumpet and string orchestraFive Easy Pieces, transcription for orchestraGuarini, the Master, for violin and stringsDEsCH, for oboe, bassoon, piano, and orchestraQuattro variazioni su un tema di Banchieri: 2 Agosto. Prima variazione, for organ and orchestra
- Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 Fantasy Suite No. 2, for violin and orchestra
Chamber and instrumental music
Primavera che non vi rincresca, electronic tape piece Ellipse III, for any 4 players/ensemblesSiglied, for chamber orchestraRomanza senza parole, for chamber ensembleAdagio cantabile, for chamber ensembleVariazioni sulla notte, for guitarRespiri, for flute and pianoSoleils, for harpEllipse, for flute Onde, for guitarMy Rock, Empty Stage, for 4 clarinets and pianoMy Blues, for flute and piano- Passacaglia, for flute, clarinet, and string quartetOstinato, for 6 violoncelliParodia, for chamber ensembleDiscanto sulla musica sull'acqua di Handel, for flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, French horn, and percussionCadenza, for clarinet and marimbaMusica per un paesaggio, for small orchestraMovimento americano, for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and string quartetOstinato, for two violoncelli and stringsPortrait, for string quartetSeven Seconds, for clarinet, violin, and pianoShadow Lines, for bass flute and live electronicsMy Piece of Africa, for violin, viola, violoncello, and contrabassFive Easy Pieces, for flute and piano Tempi di quartetto, for string quartetGlamorama Spies, for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, and piano
- Sonata, for viola and piano Moonlight Sonata, for 5 percussion instrumentsThree Baroque Buildings in a Frame, for flute and string quartetMacuilli Mexihcateteouch - Five Aztec Gods, for string quartet Haring at the Exhibition, ambient pieceFantasy Suite, for flute, violoncello and pianoFreedom Variations, for trumpet and chamber ensembleTourists and Oracles, for eleven instruments and piano four-hands Three Simple Songs, for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, and piano Venice 1976 , for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, and pianoCountry Life for saxophone and pianoA Night in Nashville for saxophone and piano
Organ and harpsichord Ellipse II, for harpsichord/clavichordA Red Wedding Dress, for organ
Choral and vocal music
Fawn, for voice and live synthesizer Immigrati, for voice and live synthesizerEllipse III, for any 4 voices/chorusesGhost Tantra, for voice and synthesizer- Missa brevis, for five voices and two synthesizersLe Néant où l'on ne peut arriver, for solo voices, mixed chorus, and orchestraNon parto, non resto, for mixed chorusIntroito, part of the Requiem per le vittime della mafia, for chorus and orchestraNight of the Nite, aria from Marilyn for soprano and pianoCanzoni d'amore, for voice and chamber ensembleLa fuga di Foscolo, for 4 soloists, speaker, and small orchestraPoi andro in America, aria from Salvatore Giuliano for voice and orchestraNinna-nanna, for tenor and pianoLa Conquista, symphonic-choral suiteCanti polacchi, for female chorus and orchestraSenza parole, for mixed chorus
Incidental and theatre music
Nebbia di latte, for flutes and live electronicsLa cena delle beffe, stage music for Carmelo BeneMaschere, for Le Massere by Carlo Goldoni for string quartetLontano dagli occhi, for one actor, 4 voices, and piano quartet Mozart a Recanati, for one actress, 1 voice, string trio, clarinet, and pianoFilm score
- ''Anemia''
Books and book contributions
- Ferrero, Lorenzo. Manuale di scrittura musicale. Torino: EDT Srl.
- Ferrero, Lorenzo, ed.. Lo studio dell'orchestrazione. Torino: EDT Srl.
- Capellini, Lorenzo. Nascita di un'opera: Salvatore Giuliano. Bologna: Nuova Alfa Editoriale.
- Ostali, Piero, ed.. Il Piccolo Marat: Storia e rivoluzione nel melodramma verista. Atti del terzo convegno di studi su Pietro Mascagni. Milan: Casa Musicale Sonzogno.
- Harpner, S, ed.. Über Musiktheater: Eine Festschrift. Munich: Ricordi.
- Jacoviello, Marco. Il suono e l'anima: Il paesaggio invisibile del melodramma. Udine: Campanotto.
- Jacoviello, Marco. Al favor della notte... Notturni nel teatro di Mozart. Perugia: Morlacchi Editore.
- Pozzi, S, ed.. La musica sacra nelle chiese cristiane. Bologna: Alfastudio.
- Donati, P, and Pacetti, E, eds.. C'erano una volta nove oscillatori... Lo studio di fonologia della Rai di Milano nello sviluppo della nuova musica in Italia. Teche. Rome: RAI Teche; Milano: Scuole civiche di Milano, Fondazione di partecipazione, Accademia internazionale della musica, Istituto di ricerca musicale; Rome: RAI-ERI.
- Maurizi, P, ed.. Quattordici interviste sul «nuovo teatro musicale» in Italia. Perugia: Morlacchi Editore.
- Hugony, Fabrizio. Galileo e il segreto dei Maya. Milan: NR.
Discography
| Year | Title | Genre | Label |
| 1972 | Musica Elettronica – Computer Music: Immigrati, Fawn | Electronic | Compagnia Editoriale Pianeta |
| 1972 | Les Saisons: Primavera che non vi rincresca | Electronic | IMEB |
| 1976 | Steirischer Herbst – Ferrero-Neuwirth-Rühm: Le Néant où l'on ne peut arriver | Classical | ORF |
| 1983 | Marco Fumo – Piano in Rag: My Rag | Classical | Fonit Cetra |
| 1983 | Fantasia su Roberto Fabbriciani: Ellipse | Classical | Philips |
| 1987 | Steirischer Herbst – Musikprotokoll 1987: Ostinato | Classical | ORF |
| 1991 | Davide Ficco – Autori Italiani Contemporanei: Onde | Classical | Oliphant |
| 1994 | Flavio Cucchi – Italian Guitar Music: Onde | Classical | Arc Music |
| 1995 | Dominique Visse – Songs for Seven Centuries: Mi palpita il cuore | Classical | King Records |
| 2002 | Sentieri Selvaggi – Bad Blood: Glamorama Spies | Classical | Sensible Records |
| 2003 | Saxophone Colours – Italian & French music for saxophone and piano: My Blues | Classical | Stradivarius |
| 2004 | L'arte del funambolo – new Italian music for saxophone & piano: My Blues | Classical | Stradivarius |
| 2006 | Sentieri Selvaggi – AC/DC: Glamorama Spies | Classical | Cantaloupe Music |
| 2009 | Ex Novo Ensemble – Ex Novo Ensemble: Three Simple Songs | Classical | Stradivarius |
| 2011 | Duo Alterno – La voce contemporanea in Italia: Canzoni d'amore | Classical | Stradivarius |
| 2012 | Alberto Mesirca – ALBORADA Musica di autori italiani contemporanei: Onde | Classical | dotGuitar.It |
| 2017 | Mimmo Malandra – NOVOSAX Great Composers for Mimmo: Country Life | Classical | Sterling Records |
| Year | Title | Genre | Label |
| 1982 | Zeitgenössische Musik in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1970-80: Glas-Spiele | Electronic | Harmonia mundi |
| 1986 | Josef Anton Riedl – Klangfelder: Klangsynchronie II, Reaktion auf Komposition für Elektronische Klänge Nr. 2, Epiphyt II | Electronic | Loft |
| 2009 | Josef Anton Riedl – Klangregionen 1951-2007: Mix Fontana Mix, Klangsynchronie I | Electronic | Edition RZ |
| 2010 | Josef Anton Riedl – vielleicht-perhaps-peut-être: Glas-Spiele | Electronic | Neos |
| Year | Title | Genre | Label |
| 1995 | Christmas in Vienna III: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "Noël d'autrefois", "When A Child is Born", "Carol of the Bells", "The Twelve Days of Christmas", "Kumbaya", and "A Very Private Christmas" - arrangements by Lorenzo Ferrero | Christmas carols | Sony Classical |
| 1997 | A Tenors Christmas: "A Very Private Christmas" - arrangement by Lorenzo Ferrero | Christmas carols | Sony Classical |
| 1997 | Plácido Domingo – The Domingo Collection: "The Student Prince: I'll walk with God" - arrangement by Lorenzo Ferrero | Christmas carols | Sony Classical |
| 1998 | The Best of Christmas in Vienna: "Noël d'autrefois", "When a Child is Born", "Carol of the Bells", "The Twelve Days of Christmas", "Kumbaya, My Lord" - arrangements by Lorenzo Ferrero | Christmas carols | Sony Classical |
| 1998 | I'll be Home for Christmas: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "A Very Private Christmas", "The Twelve Days of Christmas", "Kumbaya, My Lord" - arrangements by Lorenzo Ferrero | Christmas carols | Sony Classical |
| 2000 | Christmas All Over The World: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" - arrangement by Lorenzo Ferrero | Christmas carols | Sony Classical |
| 2006 | Weihnachtszeit mit Holger Wemhoff: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "When a Child is Born" - arrangements by Lorenzo Ferrero | Christmas carols | - |