What Rosario Scalero Taught Samuel Barber

“What Makes It Italian?” 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 has also guided listening at Bard LLI and Riverdale Y; acted as maestro del coro for opera in Italy; instructed music at The New School; and directed Underworld Productions.
Please email ginacrusco@gmail.com to confirm your attendance and receive an invitation link.

The sixth and final encounter will focus on what Rosario Scalero taught Samuel Barber

Nine years of rigorous training under Turin-born Rosario Scalero (1870-1954) encouraged the American composer Samuel Barber (1910-1981) to maintain a connection to 19th-century tradition. Barber continued to write expressive, lyrical music, using the tonal language that most likely accounts for his enduring popularity.

Great Italian composition teachers taught great composers. This semester we look into these mentorships, some natural, others surprising. Salieri taught Beethoven? Busoni taught Kurt Weill? Yes and yes, and composers throughout music history – Mozart, Haydn, Charpentier and Barber – were put through their paces by Italian teachers. In this series, as we examine these relationships, we also uncover Italianate style insinuating itself into the most unlikely places.