Riccardo Zandonai |

Riccardo Zandonai

Italian composer and conductor. He studied at Rovereto with V. Gianferrari, in 1898-1902 – at the G. Rossini Musical Lyceum in Pesaro with P. Mascagni. Since 1939 director of the conservatory (former lyceum) in Pesaro. The composer worked mainly in the operatic genre. In his work, he implemented the traditions of Italian classical opera of the 19th century, and was influenced by the musical drama of R. Wagner and verismo. The best works of Zandonai are distinguished by melodic expressiveness, subtle lyricism, and theatricality. He also performed as a conductor (in symphony concerts and in opera).

Compositions: operas – The Cricket on the Stove (Il Grillo del focolare, after Ch. Dickens, 1908, Politeama Chiarella Theatre, Turin), Conchita (1911, Dal Verme Theatre, Milan), Melenis (1912, ibid.), Francesca da Rimini (based on the tragedy of the same name by G. D’Annunzio, 1914, the Reggio Theater, Turin), Juliet and Romeo (based on the tragedy by W. Shakespeare, 1922, the Costanzi Theater, Rome), Giuliano (based on the story “The Legend of the Saint Julian the Stranger” by Flaubert, 1928, San Carlo Theater, Naples), Love Farce (La farsa amorosa, 1933, Reale del Opera Theater, Rome), etc.; for orchestra – symphony. poems Spring in Val di Sole (Primavera in Vale di Sole, 1908) and Distant Homeland (Patria lontana, 1918), symphony. suite Pictures of Segantini (Quadri de Segantini, 1911), Snow White (Biancaneve, 1939) and others; for instrument with orc. – Romantic Concerto (Concerto romantico, for Skr., 1921), Medieval Serenade (Serenade medioevale, for VLC., 1912), Andalusian Concerto (Concerto andaluso, for VLC. and Small Orchestra, 1937); for choir (or voice) with orc. – Hymn to the Motherland (Inno alla Patria, 1915), Requiem (1916), Te Deum; romances; songs; music for films; orc. transcriptions of other composers, including J. S. Bach, R. Schumann, F. Schubert, and others.