This theater was built at the end of the 18th century and - as befits its name - was burned down and rebuilt... twice in the 19th century. Then, finally, it was destroyed again by fire in 1996. This event was front page news, and engendered a major international effort to rebuild. Many celebrities led such efforts; American filmmaker Woody Allen was one of the most active.
This new theater has been criticized by many for its style, which some say doesn't match the city; and the location is considered not the best.
The composer and musician, Antonio Vivaldi, is mostly famous for his beautiful Four Seasons inspired for the scenery around Mantua. However, he was an extremely prolific composer and he led such an intriguing life that a movie starring the very handsome Joseph Fiennes is being made about it.
Just two fiddles in a case. That's how an old friend described the rare Cremonese violins he had just seen on their way from one recital to another. Together they are worth in the low 8 figures, so I can't help wondering what their maker, Guarnari, del Gesu, a solitary, ailing man whose produced relatively few instruments, would have made of the market's enthusiasm for his work.
Born in the Duchy of Parma in Le Roncole, Verdi moved to Busseto in 1824 and began his musical career under the tutelage of Ferdinando Provesi. He composed an overture for Gioacchino Rossini's II Barbiere di Silviglia (The Barber of Seville,) after which he moved to Milan. But Verdi was not accepted at the conservatory there and so studied under Vincenzo Lavigna. After marrying Lavigna's daughter, who he loved deeply, and completing his studies, he accepted the position of municipal music director of Busseto in 1836.
Italy has produced some of the finest artists, musicians, and composers of the Baroque period, an influence we enjoy today. Arcangelo Corelli was a composer of rare genius and emotional insight whose work altered the lives and direction of his peer composers, his students, and the style of music across Europe.
Venice had become the cultural and artistic pearl of Europe by the mid seventeenth century and was the birthplace of composer extraordinaire Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni. June 14th, 1671 marked the entry of young Tomaso into the world as the eldest son of a wealthy paper merchant.
Niccolo Paganini was an Italian composer and virtuoso violinist who many still consider to be the greatest violinist that ever lived. His radical and brilliant innovations in violin technique are still heralded to this day; and his 24 Caprices are considered some of the most difficult music ever composed - only a handful of violinists at any period of time ever reach the heights of technique and musical ability required to play them.
Niccolo Paganini was an Italian composer and virtuoso violinist who many still consider to be the greatest violinist that ever lived. His radical and brilliant innovations in violin technique are still heralded to this day; and his 24 Caprices are considered some of the most difficult music ever composed - only a handful of violinists at any period of time ever reach the heights of technique and musical ability required to play them.
