Adriano Lualdi
Encyclopedia
Adriano Lualdi Italian composer and conductor.
Lualdi was one of those artists in Italy whose reputation was subsequently diminished because of his early and continued avid support of Benito Mussolini
and Italian fascism
.
He was musically precocious and was sent to Rome
where he studied composition with Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
at the Santa Cecilia
conservatory. As a young musician, he conducted at La Fenice
in Venice, the San Carlo Theater in Naples, as well as heading the conservatories in Florence
and Naples
. He was a frequent contributor to musical journals and debates and collaborated with Mascagni and Toscanini, who directed Lualdi’s composition Il diavolo nel campanile, based on Edgar Allan Poe's
"The Devil in the Belfry
."
Lualdi organized the “900 musicale italiano” in 1927 in Milan
, dedicated to music of the 20th century in Italy, as well as the first International Festival of Music in Venice in 1930, an adjunct of the Venice Biennale
. In 1929 he was elected to the Italian parliament. He then directed the Naples conservatory
for eight years and, later, the Cherubini conservatory in Florence.
Lualdi was one of those artists in Italy whose reputation was subsequently diminished because of his early and continued avid support of Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
and Italian fascism
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
.
He was musically precocious and was sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he studied composition with Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari was an Italian composer and teacher. He is best known for his comic operas such as Il segreto di Susanna...
at the Santa Cecilia
Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
The Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia is one of the oldest musical institutions in the world, based in Italy.It is based at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, and was founded by the papal bull, Ratione congruit, issued by Sixtus V in 1585, which invoked two saints prominent in Western...
conservatory. As a young musician, he conducted at La Fenice
La Fenice
Teatro La Fenice is an opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of the most famous theatres in Europe, the site of many famous operatic premieres. Its name reflects its role in permitting an opera company to "rise from the ashes" despite losing the use of two theatres...
in Venice, the San Carlo Theater in Naples, as well as heading the conservatories in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. He was a frequent contributor to musical journals and debates and collaborated with Mascagni and Toscanini, who directed Lualdi’s composition Il diavolo nel campanile, based on Edgar Allan Poe's
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
"The Devil in the Belfry
The Devil in the Belfry
"The Devil in the Belfry" is a satirical short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in 1839.-Plot summary:In an isolated town called Vondervotteimittis , the punctilious inhabitants seem to be concerned with nothing but clocks and cabbage...
."
Lualdi organized the “900 musicale italiano” in 1927 in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, dedicated to music of the 20th century in Italy, as well as the first International Festival of Music in Venice in 1930, an adjunct of the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
. In 1929 he was elected to the Italian parliament. He then directed the Naples conservatory
Music Conservatories of Naples
The Music Conservatory of Naples is a music institution in Naples, southern Italy. It is currently located in the complex of San Pietro a Majella.-San Pietro a Majella:...
for eight years and, later, the Cherubini conservatory in Florence.
Operas
- La figlia del re (1922)
- Le nozze di Haura (1922)
- Il diavolo nel campanile (1925)
- l’Albatro (1932)
- Samnium
Others
- La rosa di Saaron, for soprano, tenor, and orchestra
- Orchestra suites, “Adriatica” (1932), “Africa” (1936)
- String Quartet in E major
- Sonata for Violin and Piano
Publications
- Musical Travels in Italy (1927)
- Musical Travels in Europe (1928)
- Musical Travels in the USSR (1941)