What Busoni Taught Kurt Weill

“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 fifth encounter will focus on what Busoni taught Kurt Weill

Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) spent a lifetime striving for a personal voice, anticipating the 20th century despite rejecting both Wagner and atonality. For three years Busoni mentored Kurt Weill (1900-1950), who paid him tribute thus: “When Busoni died a year ago, we did not lose a man but a standard.”

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.