PIANO RECITAL OF MUSIC BY GIACINTO SCELSI
On Saturday, November 10th at 7.30 PM, in the Tenuta Dello Scompiglio at Vorno (Lucca), Fabrizio Ottaviucci performs an “8-8-88 la porta dell’infinito” (“the door of the infinite”) piano recital of music by Giacinto Scelsi, on the thirtieth anniversary of the composer’s death. The program includes Suite IX, Ttai (1953) and Suite X, Ka (1954) both composed in the central period of Scelsi’s life and inspired by metaphysical concepts.
(Giacinto Scelsi, 1905 – 1988)
The first piece (“Pace”) relates to the movement of time. The second (“Essenza”) is based on variations on the answers to this question.
The recital is part of the “Della morte e del morire” (“Of death and dying”) theme presented by the Associazione Culturale Dello Scompiglio, with director and artist Cecilia Bertoni, in the performance space of the Tenuta di Vorno (Lucca).
From September 2018 to December 2019, there’s a packed programme of exhibitions, performances, concerts, workshops, residencies, scientific meetings and discussions and activities for children, focusing on an individual’s relationship with death.
The event includes winners of an international competition for artists in every artistic aspect. This involves over five hundred projects – alongside the creations and productions of the Compagnia Dello Scompiglio, meetings, exhibitions and guest shows.
If you are unfamiliar with Scelsi’s music then I am not surprised. So was I. His true worth has only recently been rediscovered and bears several similarities with that of the amazing English composer John Foulds (1860-1939). Among these are:
- An interest in oriental music. Scelsi’s favourite singer was the Japanese artiste Michiko Hirayama.
- The use of microtonal compositional tecniques.
- An awareness of the second, serialist, Viennese school.
- A life passed in scandalous neglect of his genius.
It is always an exciting moment when, just as you think you are pretty aware of western classical music, a name crops up that makes you reconsider its sonoral galaxy. Scelsi, for me, has changed the face of twentieth century Italian music just as much as John Foulds has altered my perception of English music.
For more info see the Scompiglio web site at http://www.delloscompiglio.org/ or phone 0583 971125