Piero Coppola
Encyclopedia
Piero Coppola was an Italian
conductor
, pianist
and composer
.
; his parents were both singers. He studied at the Milan Conservatory, graduating in piano and composition in 1910. By 1911 he was already conducting opera at La Scala
opera house in Milan. That year he heard Debussy
conduct his own compositions Ibéria and Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
in Turin, an experience that "had a decisive influence on his career".
He then worked in Brussels, Belgium before spending the duration of World War I
in Scandinavia
.
In 1921 Coppola resided in London
and he later later moved to France
. Between 1923 and 1934 he was the artistic director of La Voix de son Maître, the French branch of The Gramophone Company. In 1924 he was asked by Sylvia Beach
to make a recording of James Joyce
reading from Ulysses
: Coppola replied that the recording would have to be made at Beach's expense, would not have the HMV label on it and would not be listed in the catalog. In the late 1920s and 1930s Coppola conducted recordings of many works of Debussy and Ravel
, including the first recordings of Debussy's La mer
and Ravel's Boléro
. Coppola's conducting enjoyed the admiration of Debussy, although the composer never actually heard Coppola perform any of his works. His work in French repertoire has been widely praised. His recordings of Debussy have been described as "without rival for the period", with his 1938 recording of Nocturnes eulogized as a "masterpiece" and among the early recordings "closest to Debussy's thought". His recording of Ravel's Le tombeau de Couperin
won the Grand Prix du Disque
in 1932. Coppola also conducted the first recording of Prokofiev
's Third Piano Concerto
, with Prokofiev himself as soloist, in June 1932.
From 1939 onwards Coppola worked in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he died.
or Carmine's son Francis Ford Coppola
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Life and career
Coppola was born in MilanMilan
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 ,...
; his parents were both singers. He studied at the Milan Conservatory, graduating in piano and composition in 1910. By 1911 he was already conducting opera at La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
opera house in Milan. That year he heard Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
conduct his own compositions Ibéria and Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune , commonly known by its English title Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, is a symphonic poem for orchestra by Claude Debussy, approximately 10 minutes in duration...
in Turin, an experience that "had a decisive influence on his career".
He then worked in Brussels, Belgium before spending the duration of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
.
In 1921 Coppola resided in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and he later later moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Between 1923 and 1934 he was the artistic director of La Voix de son Maître, the French branch of The Gramophone Company. In 1924 he was asked by Sylvia Beach
Sylvia Beach
Sylvia Beach , born Nancy Woodbridge Beach, was an American-born bookseller and publisher who lived most of her life in Paris, where she was one of the leading expatriate figures between World War I and II.-Early life:...
to make a recording of James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
reading from Ulysses
Ulysses (novel)
Ulysses is a novel by the Irish author James Joyce. It was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, in Paris. One of the most important works of Modernist literature,...
: Coppola replied that the recording would have to be made at Beach's expense, would not have the HMV label on it and would not be listed in the catalog. In the late 1920s and 1930s Coppola conducted recordings of many works of Debussy and Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, including the first recordings of Debussy's La mer
La mer
"La mer" is French for "the sea", and is the name of:*La mer , an orchestral composition by Claude Debussy*La Mer , Champion racehorse*"La Mer" , a song by Charles Trenet, published in 1939 and first recorded by him in 1946...
and Ravel's Boléro
Boléro
Boléro is a one-movement orchestral piece by Maurice Ravel . Originally composed as a ballet commissioned by Russian ballerina Ida Rubinstein, the piece, which premiered in 1928, is Ravel's most famous musical composition....
. Coppola's conducting enjoyed the admiration of Debussy, although the composer never actually heard Coppola perform any of his works. His work in French repertoire has been widely praised. His recordings of Debussy have been described as "without rival for the period", with his 1938 recording of Nocturnes eulogized as a "masterpiece" and among the early recordings "closest to Debussy's thought". His recording of Ravel's Le tombeau de Couperin
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Le tombeau de Couperin is a suite for solo piano by Maurice Ravel, composed between 1914 and 1917, in six movements. Each movement is dedicated to the memory of friends of the composer who had died fighting in World War I...
won the Grand Prix du Disque
Grand Prix du Disque
The Grand Prix du Disque is the premier French award for musical recordings. The award was inaugurated by l'Académie Charles Cros in 1948 and offers prizes in various categories. The categories vary from year to year, and multiple awards are often made in any one category in the same year...
in 1932. Coppola also conducted the first recording of Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
's Third Piano Concerto
Piano Concerto No. 3 (Prokofiev)
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 is the best-known concerto by Sergei Prokofiev. It was completed in 1921 using sketches first started in 1913.-Composition and performances:...
, with Prokofiev himself as soloist, in June 1932.
From 1939 onwards Coppola worked in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he died.
Compositions
Coppola composed two operas, a symphony, and some shorter works. According to a 1921 article in the Musical Times, his music "is all nerves, and always has a decisive rhythmic character". The article went on to describe Coppola as "[a] very strong musician, [who] loves to translate musically certain grotesque and gruesome poses which he succeeds in making very impressive."Family
Despite many unsubstantiated claims, there is no known family relationship between Piero Coppola and Carmine CoppolaCarmine Coppola
Carmine Coppola was an American composer, flautist, editor, musical director, and songwriter. Coppola was a composer and conductor who contributed to many of the musical scores in The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Godfather Part III, and Apocalypse Now directed by his son Francis Ford...
or Carmine's son Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
.
Recording premieres
- Debussy, La mer, orchestra, 1928
- Ravel, Shéhérazade, Marcelle Gerar (soprano), orchestra, The Gramophone Company, November 1928, Paris
- Ravel, Boléro, orchestra, The Gramophone Company, January 8, 1930, Paris
- Prokofiev, Third Piano Concerto, Sergei Prokofiev (piano), London Symphony OrchestraLondon Symphony OrchestraThe London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, HMV, June 27–28, 1932, London - Ravel, Daphnis et ChloéDaphnis et ChloéDaphnis et Chloé is a ballet with music by Maurice Ravel. Ravel described it as a "symphonie choréographique" . The scenario was adapted by Michel Fokine from an eponymous romance by the Greek writer Longus thought to date from around the 2nd century AD...
suite number 1, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireOrchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireThe Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire was a symphony orchestra established in Paris in 1828. It gave its first concert on 9 March 1828 with music by Beethoven, Rossini, Meifreid, Rode and Cherubini....
, The Gramophone Company, 1934, Paris