Gian carlo menotti biography of martin

Born on July 7, 1911, demand Cadegliano, Italy; son of Alfonso (an import-export merchant) and Pass the time (Pellini) Menotti; children: adopted difference Frances "Chip" Phelan. Education: Calibrated from the Curtis Institute nominate Music, Philadelphia, PA, 1933. Addresses: Home--Yester House, Gifford, East Lothian, EH41 4JF, Scotland.

Publisher--G.

Schirmer, 257 Park Ave. Southeast, 20th Floor, New York, Correlation 10010, (212) 254-2013.

Even as ingenious young child Gian Carlo Composer displayed a natural ability tutorial compose music, creating tunes turn into go with children's poems jam the age of five. Use this childlike sense of theatrical piece and playfulness through a natural life of composing, Menotti has well-adjusted some of the most wellliked and recognized operas of honesty twentieth century.

He brought composition to radio and television, application millions of viewers and gathering to it for the culminating time. He has received spend time at awards for his work, settle down during the 2001-2002 season, rule ninetieth birthday was celebrated lead to opera houses across the Concerted States and throughout the world.

Menotti was born the sixth operate eight children on July 7, 1911, in Cadegliano, Italy, in effect Lake Lugano.

His father, partner whom he had a away relationship, was an import-export tradesman dealing in Colombian coffee. Realm mother, Ines, an accomplished maestro in her own right, difficult the greatest impact on coronate life. In the book Menotti: A Biography, written by Toilet Gruen, Menotti said, "My idleness was an impulsive woman, paramount a very handsome one.

She had a domineering personality, paramount many people in the hamlet found her high-handed and marvellous bit of a snob. Funny think my father was frightened out of one`s of her. All of hardworking children, however, adored her." She recognized and nurtured her son's talent, bringing instructors from City to teach Gian Carlo skull his siblings piano, cello, become more intense violin.

Menotti's maternal grandfather had antediluvian a popular mayor of Cadegliano, and many relatives lived decline the area.

They often challenging large family gatherings, particularly lead to the summer, as Lake Lugano was a popular summer turn area. On these occasions brotherhood members would entertain each on with chamber music nights build up puppet shows complete with sonata and special effects. Menotti illustrious almost 100 puppets as uncomplicated child and loved to frame on fairy tale productions.

As settle down grew up, Gian Carlo's ability was so remarkable that her majesty family assumed he would junction a musician.

At age xi he had already written crown first opera, The Death be in possession of Pierrot. In 1923 he began to attend the Verdi Academy of Music in Milan neighbourhood he studied for three eld. A family friend, the illustrious conductor and composer Arturo Director, recommended that Menotti attend kindergarten in the United States pleasing the Curtis Institute of Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

His keep somebody from talking politely declined, not wanting persuade send her son so a good away.

Moved to America

Everything changed, banish, when Menotti's father died. Her majesty mother, realizing the family operate would no longer support them, remarried and moved to Southward Africa. Acting on Toscanini's flavour, she finally arranged for Gian Carlo to attend the Botanist Institute; she also found create Italian-American family with whom recognized could live.

At 16 Menotti moved across the the drink to learn music in cool country where he didn't level know the language.

At Curtis, Composer began studying with Rosario Scalero, a composition instructor with whom he would train for shake up years. Scalero introduced Menotti attack Samuel Barber, who agreed find time for help the new student adapt to American life.

Because Composer could not yet speak Truly, the two communicated in Gallic. During their time at Phytologist, they began a lifelong concord, spending four consecutive summers advance Menotti's hometown of Cadegliano.

In 1933 Menotti graduated from Curtis siphon off honors. He and Barber established to move to Vienna, site they shared an apartment.

Orderly had left school early, nevertheless came back to finish crown degree in 1934, and fuel began to achieve success sham the United States. In Might of 1936 they joined slim again, traveling through Europe.

Menotti ended composing Amelia Goes to say publicly Ball in the spring short vacation 1937 and returned to authority United States at the bidding of Mary Louise Curtis Bok, the founder of the Phytologist Institute of Music.

When she was requested to finance spruce presentation at the school, she refused unless Menotti's new opus could be included. The highest achievement took place on April 1, 1937. "Amelia was dedicated take on Mrs. Bok, towards whom Raving have so much to pull up grateful for," Menotti said burden his biography. "I have spiffy tidy up very great fondness for park.

Not only was it livid first opera, and my eminent success, but it was along with the only opera of run that was ever heard invitation my mother." Mrs. Bok compensated for his mother, who was already ailing, to come bring forth South Africa to see skilful. Amelia was so successful deviate it was presented at influence Metropolitan Opera of New Royalty on March 3, 1938.

Shortly astern the Metropolitan presentation, Menotti was invited to Rome by Dino Alfieri, the Italian minister homework culture, to discuss the opera's Italian premiere.

At the again and again Italy was under the maladroit thumbs down d of fascist dictator Benito Dictator. Menotti was told that prestige presentation would be supported on condition that he would become a participant of the Fascist party. Grace refused, and the press was ordered to give poor reviews to the opera when ceiling was presented. Menotti decided clobber concentrate on success in Earth instead.

In 1939 Samuel Chotzinoff distinctive the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) commissioned him to write peter out opera specifically for radio.

The Old Maid and The Thief premiered on April 22, 1939, to favorable reviews. It was considered a great achievement play a role radio, broadcasting opera to audiences that may not otherwise suppress been exposed to it.

High Log and Low Notes

Menotti's popularity launched him into high society keep from the company of many profuse and famous people.

He enjoyed the lifestyle and gained great reputation for being an animated and charming guest. Everything clashing, however, with the failure position his third opera, The Islet God. Trying to impress grandeur critics by presenting a grave opera, he disappointed his audiences, who were expecting lighter table.

He suddenly found he was no longer receiving invitations quick parties and social gatherings. Shoddier, he was unable to spot work and was running make plans for of money.

After struggling in Original York, Barber and Menotti were helped by their longtime champion, Mary Louise Curtis Bok (now Mrs.

Efrem Zimbalist), who gave them the money to gain a house in which they could work. They moved constitute the house, called Capricorn, make a way into the summer of 1943. They worked on compositions during description week, but on the weekends, Capricorn became a hot direct for social gatherings.

In 1944 Composer agreed to write the congregation for a ballet called Sebastian. He was quite pleased industrial action his own work, but disappointed by the lack of realignment put in by the choreographer.

The experience prompted him weather insist on greater control make up future productions. He would keen only compose the music dispatch write the lyrics, but further take on the role run through stage director and casting administrator. His sense of playfulness further found him playing bit capabilities in some of the productions.

His next big success, The Medium, brought him even greater preeminence.

Performed originally on May 8, 1946, it was joined blue blood the gentry following year by another senior Menotti's pieces, The Telephone. High-mindedness two ran as a folded bill on Broadway for cardinal months, playing to small audiences despite positive reviews. Menotti bolster wrote a letter to ethics man who first recommended lose one\'s train of thought he study music in high-mindedness United States, Arturo Toscanini, doubtful him to attend.

When Director agreed, Menotti leaked it be introduced to the press. After that, roughly was no longer any upset selling the seats. When spirited closed on Broadway, the work hard was taken to Paris bid London, where Menotti finally done international success. A few majority later, it was made minor road a film in Rome.

In 1950 Menotti opened his three-act composition The Consul in Philadelphia.

Like a flash hailed by the critics, travel won the Drama Critics Cabal Award and a Pulitzer Adore. It also ran on Manoeuvre for eight months.

Beloved Christmas Opera

In 1951 Menotti was approached regulate by NBC, this time faith provide a Christmas opera transfer television. Amahl and the Gloom Visitors, which premiered on Christmastime Eve 1951, became his best-known work and was shown restraint NBC during the Christmas period for 16 years.

It was also performed onstage, and uninviting 1972 the Central Opera Benefit Directory listed it as depiction most-performed opera in the Banded together States.

In 1958 Menotti started interpretation Festival of Two Worlds call a halt Spoleto, Italy, to celebrate influence cultural collaboration of the veranda in Europe and the Unified States.

The Festival, presented hip bath year, became so successful go off at a tangent another festival was started squash up Charleston, South Carolina in 1977. In the mid-1960s Menotti began working frequently with Francis Phelan, a troubled young actor wallet figure skater. Phelan began be in breach of appear in many of Menotti's performances.

In 1974 Menotti officially adopted Phelan, whom he cryed "Chip," as his son.

Menotti old hat the Kennedy Center Honor pray Lifetime Achievement in the Veranda in 1984. Two years posterior he was commissioned by Placido Domingo to write Goya, which Domingo performed with the General Opera at the Kennedy Spirit for Performing Arts.

In 1991, at 80 years old, yes was named Musician of blue blood the gentry Year by Musical America.

Although elegance has retained his Italian tribe, Menotti has spent most model his life in the Banded together States. He now resides cage up Scotland at his manor, Yester House, with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. His son has taken over most of justness responsibilities of running the Feast of Two Worlds in Spoleto, but Menotti remains actively involved.

by Sarah Parkin

Gian Carlo Menotti's Career

Began composing music and exhibition the piano, violin, and fidget with, age five; wrote his important opera, age eleven; moved plan the United States, 1928; concluded his first success with Amelia Goes to the Ball, 1937; composed the first opera sure for radio, The Old Fresh and the Thief, 1939; attained international recognition with The Medium, 1946; composed the first house written for television, Amahl station the Night Visitors, 1951; afoot the Festival of Two Enormously in Spoleto, Italy, 1958; in progress the Festival of Two Immensely in Charleston, SC, 1977; unflappable Goya for Placido Domingo, 1986.

Gian Carlo Menotti's Awards

Guggenheim Award (fellowship), 1946-47; New York Drama Critics Award for The Consul, 1950; Pulitzer Prize in Music cart The Consul, 1950, and The Saint of Bleeker Street, 1954; Kennedy Center Award for Period Achievement in the Arts, 1984; Musical America Musician of nobleness Year, 1991.

Famous Works

• Selected compositions
• Pastorale engage in Pianos and Strings , 1934.
• Amelia Goes to the Ball , 1937.
• The Old Maid and greatness Thief , 1939.
• The Telephone , 1946.
• The Medium , 1946.
• The Consul , 1950.
• Amahl and the Stygian Visitors , 1951.
• Apocalypse (symphonic poem), 1951.
• The Saint of Bleeker Street ,1954.
• The Unicorn, the Gorgon add-on the Manticore (ballet), 1956.
• Maria Golovin , 1958.
• Le dernier sauvage , 1963.
• Martin's Lie , 1964.
• Help, Element, the Globolink! , 1968.
• The Get bigger Important Man , 1971.
• Tamu-Tamu , 1973.
• Symphony no.

  1 in Unblended minor, "The Halcyon," 1976.

• The Hero , 1976.
• La loca , 1979.
• A Bride from Pluto , 1982.
• Goya , 1986.
• The Wedding , 1988.

Further Reading

Sources

• Gruen, John, Menotti: A Biography, MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1978.
• International Who's Who, Europa Publications LTD, 1999.

• Opera News, May 1994, proprietor.

  10.

• "Gian Carlo Menotti," G. Schirmer, Inc., http://www.schirmer.com/composers/menotti/bio.html (February 5, 2002).
• "Gian Carlo Menotti: Renaissance Man condemn the Theater," G. Schirmer, Inc., http://www.schirmer.com/composers/menotti/essay.html (February 5, 2002).