Massimo Di Gesu


Massimo Di Gesu is an Italian composer, born in 1970.

Academic studies

At the Milan Conservatory Di Gesu attained the Diploma in Piano in 1992, and the Diploma in Composition in 1995. He studied composition with Bruno Bettinelli, and piano with Jole Mantegazza and Anita Porrini, one of Cortot's and Benedetti Michelangeli's pupils. Besides further piano studies with Valerio Premuroso, he attended post-graduate composition courses at the Petrassi Academy, at the University of Central England, and at the University of Leeds.

Style

«At first, his musical thought could be traced back to the expressionism of Schönberg and the mastery of Berg.
Actually, what is here perceptible is the mighty shadow of J. S. Bach»
.

Di Gesu's approach to composition focuses on the symbols hidden in the syntax of sounds.

His compositional technique enables the construction of melodic, harmonic, and contrapuntal structures forming a narrative arc of such discursive power that Quirino Principe described his music as "strong... indeed, among the strongest".
Di Gesu's language is characterised by the search for a perceptible attraction linking the elements of the musical narrative: this is considered the ineludible condition for said narrative's vitality, i.e. significance.

Partnerships and collaborations

Di Gesu's debut at La Scala Theatre took place in May 2013, when La Scala String Quartet premiered his Verdigo, a work which the ensemble had commissioned on the occasion of the bicentennial of Giuseppe Verdi's birth.
La Scala String Quartet had already played Di Gesu's works such as Ansikte mot ansikte and WOLFiliGrANG.
In 2014 the Teatro La Fenice commissioned from him Luci d'estate which was premiered by the Ex Novo Ensemble in July of the same year.
Other artistic partners of Di Gesu's are
  • Peter Bradley-Fulgoni, who has performed works of his in venues like St Martin-in-the-Fields - London, Salle Cortot - Paris, Skrjabin Museum, Richter Memorial Apartment – Moscow; besides, he has included various works of his in his CDs "PianOLYPHONY" and "PianOLYPTYCHS".
  • Wiener Virtuosen
  • Ensemble Strumentale Scaligero
  • Maurizio Simeoli
  • Mariangela Vacatello
  • Duo Favalessa-Semeraro
  • Maurizio Zanini
  • Trio Dansi
  • Arcturus
  • I Virtuosi Italiani.

Further fields of interest

Poems by Di Gesu, such as La vita è un sogno and Al giardino, have been recited by Maria Brivio and Federika Brivio within the radio broadcast, Diamo l’Abbrivio.
Computer-based drawings of his appear on the cover of the CD “PianOLYPHONY” recorded by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni, and in the score of Geometria di un diletto.

Partial list of works

  • iridHESSEnza for flute and guitar
  • A view from the pier for string orchestra
  • Lilith for piano
  • Rima petrosa for piano
  • Das Eisemeer for piano
  • Fulgida for piano
  • Dionisiaco for piano
  • Verdigo for string quartet
  • Im Tempo eines Walzers for wind quintet and string quintet
  • Aristocanto for voice and piano
  • Geometria di un diletto for flute, clarinet, cello
  • Omaggio a Novaro for flute and piano
  • Sonata in 'F.' for cello and piano
  • Music stamps for piano
  • Through a glass... for piano
  • Schegge for violin, cello, piano
  • Trilogia dell'assenza for piano
  • Ansikte mot ansikte for string quartet