What Salieri Taught Beethoven

“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 fourth encounter will focus on what Salieri taught Beethoven

A contemporary critic said that Antonio Salieri (1750-1825) “could bind all the power of German music to the sweet Italian style”. In retirement, he taught the art of setting Italian poetry to those who might not otherwise be able to afford composition lessons – such as Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827).

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.