ROMANTIC COMPOSERS
VINCENZO BELLINI (1801-1835)
Vincenzo Bellini (1801–1835) was an influential Italian composer, widely celebrated for his operas, which are some of the most beloved works in the Italian bel canto tradition. Known for their lush melodies, dramatic intensity, and intricate vocal lines, Bellini's operas have had a profound impact on the development of opera in the 19th century.
Some of his most famous works include Norma, La Sonnambula, I Puritani, and Pirata. Bellini was a master of melodic writing, crafting long, flowing phrases that showcased the vocal virtuosity of singers. His operas often explore themes of love, sacrifice, and fate, with richly emotional characters at the center of the action.
Although his life was tragically short—he died at just 33—Bellini's music has left a lasting legacy in the operatic world. His works remain a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire, admired for their beauty, expressiveness, and technical demands on performers.
FRANCESCO PAOLO TOSTI (1846-1916)
Giovanni Tosti was an Italian composer and teacher, born in 1846 in Ortona, Italy. He is best known for his romantic songs and operatic works, particularly his popular romanze (Italian art songs), which became beloved throughout Europe and beyond. Tosti’s music often captured themes of love, longing, and melancholy, featuring beautiful melodies and lush harmonies. He taught at the prestigious conservatories of the time and worked with many notable singers. His most famous compositions include "A Vucchella" and "La Serenata." Tosti's work contributed significantly to the tradition of Italian vocal music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
GIUSEPPE MARTUCCI (1856-1909)
Giuseppe Martucci (1856–1909) was an influential Italian composer, pianist, and conductor, known for his contributions to late-Romantic music. He played a crucial role in the revival of symphonic music in Italy, a country that was traditionally more focused on opera during his time. Martucci is perhaps best known for his symphonic works, especially his Symphony No. 2 in F major, which blends lush orchestration with Italian lyrical themes.
In addition to his symphonic output, Martucci composed chamber music, piano pieces, and choral works. He was also a respected teacher and conductor, and he played a key role in the development of Italian music education, notably as a professor at the Naples Conservatory. His works, while somewhat overshadowed by those of contemporaries like Verdi and Puccini, are still appreciated for their sophistication and emotional depth.
GIACOMO PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) is one of the most celebrated Italian composers, renowned for his operas that have become staples of the repertoire. His works are known for their emotional intensity, rich melodies, and sophisticated orchestration, which helped redefine opera in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Puccini's operas often explore themes of love, sacrifice, and human struggle, with vivid characters and dramatic depth.
Some of his most famous operas include La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, each of which has left a lasting legacy on the operatic world. Puccini's ability to blend traditional Italian operatic style with innovative orchestral techniques and deep psychological insight into his characters marked a shift in opera, moving beyond the rigid structures of the past to a more fluid, emotional form. His works continue to be performed globally, celebrated for their power to move audiences deeply.
OTTORINO RESPIGHI (1879-1936)
Ottorino Respighi (1879–1936) was an Italian composer, musicologist, and conductor, best known for his symphonic poems that vividly evoke the landscapes and culture of Italy. His works often blend lush orchestration with a sense of evocative imagery, drawing on both Italian musical traditions and the broader European symphonic style. Respighi's most famous works include The Pines of Rome, The Fountains of Rome, and Roman Festivals, which are part of a trilogy of symphonic poems inspired by the sights, sounds, and history of the city of Rome.
In addition to his symphonic works, Respighi was a dedicated musicologist, particularly interested in reviving early Italian music. He also composed operas, chamber music, and choral pieces. While his music is often associated with lush Romanticism, Respighi incorporated modern techniques and a rich sense of color and texture into his compositions, making him a key figure in early 20th-century Italian music.
CONTEMPORARY COMPOSERS
Luciano Maria Serra is an Italian composer, conductor and pianist. Born in Sicily, in 1975, he writes music for the stage, opera, orchestral and chamber works, and music for screen and multimedia.
In 2015 he was the assistant of Gustavo Dudamel (Mozart's Nozze di Figaro, Berlin Staatsoper) and in 2017 of Domingo Hindoyan (Rossini's Semiramide, Opera National de Lorraine).
His music was performed by Edicson Ruiz, Veronika Eberle, Guido Rimonda, Nicola Malagugini, Bruno Boano, Andrea Lucchesini, Quartetto di Cremona, in the musical seasons of the Teatro Massimo (Catania), Virée Classique Festival (Montreal), Viotti Festival (Vercelli), Teatro Valli (Reggio Emilia), Mãrvao International Music Festival, Associazione Musicale "Eliodoro Sollima" (Palermo), Associazione Siciliana Amici della Musica (Palermo), Associazione Musicale Etnea (Catania), Teatro Machiavelli (Catania), Orestiadi (Gibellina) and published by "Da Vinci" (Osaka) and "Kelidon" (Palermo).
His film scores was performed in international sphere (Festival Internazionale del Cinema d'Animazione of Athens, Ars Electronica Festival of Vienna, Arcipelago Film Festival of Rome, Costaiblea Film Festival of Ragusa).
As conductor, he has a wide repertoire of opera and symphonic music. He conducted also the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana of Palermo in a concert dedicated to the music of Mozart and Haydn.
As pianist he played at Philarmonie of Berlin and in many others concert halls.
Luciano Maria serra was graduated in composition, conduction and piano at the Conservatorio di Musica of Palermo.
Giovanni Albini (b. 1982), composer, ukulelist, and music theorist, is a tenured professor, head of research, delegate for international projects, and member of the academic council at the Conservatory “Antonio Vivaldi” in Alessandria, where he established the world’s first Bachelor’s degree program in Ukulele. He teaches composition at the University School of the Conservatory of Lugano (Swiss Confederation) and is an academic member of the Istituto di Studi Superiori dell’Insubria “Gerolamo Cardano”. He coordinates the joint PhD program in “Practices and Repertoires of Italian Music”, administratively based at the Conservatory of Alessandria, and serves as the scientific director of the national project “Casta Diva”, dedicated to the role of women in Italian music theatre, funded by the PNRR. Additionally, he is the research coordinator of ANDA – Associazione Docenti AFAM. Albini has taught the seminar “Quantitative Methods for Art” at The University School for Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia, an Italian public institution dedicated to research and higher education. He holds a BM, MM, and PgD in Composition, a BS and MS in Mathematics, and an MM in Classical Guitar. He earned his PhD in music composition from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn. As a ukulelist, Albini fosters the development of a new, sophisticated ukulele repertoire, aiming to deepen and evolve the instrument’s unique idiomatic characteristics. He has presented his research on contemporary ukulele music at various international institutions, including The Juilliard School in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. His ukulele transcriptions are published by Ricordi and exclusively distributed by Hal Leonard. As a composer, Albini explores the use of quantitative methods in music, developing a distinctive, mathematically informed aesthetic. He has a particular interest in soundtracks and sound design for interactive media, algorithmic music, and nonlinear composition systems, programming various interactive multimedia artworks, music software, and music video games while researching their aesthetic structure. He has lectured on these topics at numerous universities and conservatories, including Curtis Institute of Music, Yale University (USA), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX), Open University (UK), Lithuanian Union of Composers (LT), and Politecnico di Milano (IT), among others. His recordings are published by Brilliant Classics, Da Vinci, and Stradivarius, and his concert music has been performed by international soloists, ensembles, and orchestras across Europe, the USA, Canada, and Japan. Albini is the founding Artistic Director of the highSCORE New Music Center and the highSCORE Festival.