"What Makes It Italian?": According to Puccini is a music listening and discussion group that meets online on Zoom and is open to everyone. The Fall 2021 edition begins Monday, October 18, 6:30-8pm.
Participation is free.
The group is led by Gina Crusco, who guides listening at Bard LLI and Riverdale Y, and who has been music instructor at The New School and director of Underworld Productions.
Please email [email protected] to confirm your attendance and receive an invitation link.
Fall 2021 Schedule
Come traverse Italian music from Renaissance Florence to 20th century Hollywood -- with Giacomo Puccini as our guide. Maestro Puccini articulated three central qualities of Italian music: clarity, spontaneity, and simplicity. He’ll be there to help when words fail us in describing Italianate musical expressivity. In this series we explore the life of key musical figures, listening to and discussing their compositions. With Puccini’s help -- and the aid of a glossary provided weekly -- we become conversant in the musical terms that name what we experience.
Monday, October 18, 6:30pm
Francesco Corteccia (1502-1571): Weaver of new textures
Monday, October 25, 6:30pm
Francesco Provenzale (1624-1704): Founder of the Neapolitan School
Monday, November 1, 6:30pm
Antonio Caldara (1670-1736): Creator of the first Clemenza
Monday, November 8, 6:30pm
Giuseppe Sarti (1729-1802): Composer to the Tsars
Monday, November 15, 6:30pm
Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840): Virtuoso casino-owner
Monday, November 22, 6:30pm
Alfredo Catalani (1854-1893): Depictor of death by avalanche
Monday, November 29, 6:30pm
Ennio Morricone (1928-2020): Artist of film music
