CONTEMPORARY Vol. VI
SERGIO CALLIGARIS
[LP: Classico Records distr. Ricordi, CO LP 3615]

side A
1. RENZO'S PIANO NOTEBOOK (9'13")
Sergio Calligaris, piano
2. CHOREOGRAPHIC SCENES (15'53")
Guya Saggiomo - Giuseppe Fricelli, pianos
3. AVE MARIA (3'20")
Ennio Buoso, tenor - Giorgio Favaretto, piano

side B
1. SICILIANA (2'15")
Mario Ancillotti, flute - Giuseppe Fricelli, piano
from "Etudes"
2. N° 20 DRAMATIC (1'44")
Marcella Crudeli, piano
3. N° 21 WHY? (2'41")
Marcella Crudeli, piano
4. N° 22 ALLEGRO FURIOSO (4'30")
Marcella Crudeli, piano
5. N° 23 HARP
    N° 24 LULLABY (1'59") original theme by Renzo Arzeni,
dedicatee of the "Etudes"
Sergio Calligaris, piano
6. SONATA for cello and piano (12'23")
Pietro Stella, cello - Alberto Pomeranz, piano

Recorded in Florence - December 1980
A Production of Edizioni Musicali Classico - Florence

 

It is very rare that a figure as "classically elegant", composed and yet impassioned as Sergio Calligaris appears on the contemporary music scene. His works live today's experience; they reflect today's great poetic and aesthetic crises as well as the confusion surrounding contemporary linguistic identities. His music, it is true, doesn't shy away from the frey, from a departure from past memories or from the left-over ideals of a lost harmony and a disenchanted, biting, even hostile, method of composition. But even so, the Calligaris' mode of expression manages to find a peaceful compromise between today's harshness and the "utopia" of yesterday.

The Romantic and Late Romantic traditions still speak to us with freshness, brio and the astonishing pleasure of something "new" from the pages of Calligaris' works; at the same time, the spare and difficult reality of the present finds a sort of comforting, encouraging element in that affectionate legacy.

This is the source of exceptional serenity of Calligaris' opus. Its nourishment comes from its cultural roots - just as important as a natural mother - leaving it open to mediation and the critical acceptance of the here-and-now.

Calligaris doesn't try to hide the quiverings of emotion or the wide range of pathos; instead he arranges them in a rational structure where knowledge and technical know-how are balanced against the shiver of enthusiasm.

In this way, we can say that Calligaris embodies both a bit of Brahms and a bit of Berg.

Enrico Cavallotti

Piano Duo Guya Saggiomo - Giuseppe Fricelli
The Duo was formed with the aim to divulge original chamber compositions for piano duet; it won the competition "Exhibition of young Italian performers" in 1972 and 1974.
Guya Saggiomo, Florentine, studied at "Morlacchi" of Perugia under the guidance of R.Nardi and graduated in piano with the highest marks. Moreover, she obtained her Diploma of choral music and choir conduction at "Cherubini" Conservatory of Florence, where she's teacher of piano. She gave many concerts in duo and as soloist in Italy and abroad for known Chamber music societies, earning high approval.
Giuseppe Fricelli studied and graduated at "Cherubini" of Florence with R.Nardi. Always in Florence he followed F.Rossi's course of chamber music and V.Frazzi's course of composition. He stood out in various Italian competitions of chamber music. He recorded for RAI, for Vatican Radio and other foreign broadcastings. He gave various concerts in international festivals and for important music organizations. He's teacher at Conservatory of Bologna.

Ennio Buoso studied at Conservatory "Benedetto Marcello" of Venice under the guidance of M.Carbone; he improved with G.Martinelli. He sang in various great Italian theaters (among the others: La Fenice of Venice, San Carlo of Naples, La Scala of Milan) and abroad. He took part in Festival of Wexford within "La Vestale" of Spontini. Under the baton of famous conductors (L.Bernstein, Z.Mehta, G.Gavazzeni and others) he participated in many Public Symphonic Seasons of RAI. He recorded and was awarded with "David" of Michelangelo and the "European Leader".

Giorgio Favaretto was born in Venice and was pupil of M.Agostini for composition and G.Tagliapietra for piano; he graduated at Conservatory of Naples. He collaborated as pianist with the best contemporary singers and instrumentists; he conceived and led the Milanese association "One hour of music", carrying out first-class artistic events. Director of the department of chamber music concerts at RAI since 1942, teacher of vocal music at Accademia Chigiana of Siena since 1948, he's appointed of the "Course of performing of concert vocal music" at Accademia of St.Cecilia since 1954.

Mario Ancillotti was born in Florence in 1946 and followed courses of flute, composition and choral music at "Cherubini". He was, from 1970 to 1978, the first flute of the RAI Symphony Orchestra of Rome. Later on he devoted exclusively to the performing activity, both as soloist and in duos or in chamber ensembles, taking part in the main Italian and foreign musical institutions. He also participated at Festivals of Spoleto, Taormina, Rayan (France), Berlin, Barcelona, Venice (The Arts Festival). He recorded and holds international proficiency courses; he teaches at St.Cecilia.

Marcella Crudeli, considered as one of the best Italian performers, formed at schools of B.Seidlhofer, A.Cortot and C.Zecchi; she currently teaches piano at Conservatory of St.Cecilia in Rome and holds courses of piano performing in Italy and abroad. She performs concerts as soloist and with important international orchestras in over sixty countries all over the world, for known musical organizations. She recorded and took part in juries of piano competitions.

Pietro Stella was born in Umbria and studied cello in Perugia with E.Pardini, P.Grossi, E.Altobelli and graduated with A.Baldovino at "Morlacchi" of Perugia in 1964. Later on he improved in chamber music in Venice with the "Italian Quartet". He was the first cello of some important Italian orchestras; he gave concerts in Europe, Russia and North America; he recorded for European and American broadcastings; he participated to international festivals. His concert activity is currently oriented towards chamber music; he plays in duo with pianist Pomeranz and is part of "Trio of Siena" and "Boccherini Quintet".

Alberto Pomeranz was born in Rome and was directed to musical studies very young, as pupil of E.Petri; he graduated at St.Cecilia and improved in chamber music with G.Agosti; he attended in Venice the course of Italian modern music with G.Gorini. At the "International Competition of Beethovenian performance", held by W.Kempff, he represented Italy. Moved to the United States for two years, he taught at "Brooklin College" of New York. He's soloist of the Chamber Orchestra of Rome and is part of "Trio of Siena". He gave concerts in Europe, Canada, Americas and Africa.