Niccolò Paganini (1782 – 1840): Virtuoso casino-owner | Casa Italiana Zerilli / Marimò

Niccolò Paganini (1782 – 1840): Virtuoso casino-owner

Music Listening Series [On Zoom]
Mon, 11/15/2021 - 6:30pm
“What Makes it Italian?”: According to Puccini
Detail of a contemporary poster advertising one of Paganini’s concerts.  Source: https://houstonsymphony.org/paganini-theme/

Giacomo Puccini named three criteria of Italian music: clarity, spontaneity, and simplicity. In this meeting we explore the music of Niccolò Paganini, discovering how he fashioned devilish virtuosity out of bel canto melody. Puccini would have applauded the simplicity of the tunes he composed.

"What Makes It Italian?": According to Puccini is a music listening and discussion group that meets online on the Zoom platform and is open to everyone.
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.

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.