20th-century Classical Music in Padua

DSC_0140<<20th-century classical music>> <<contemporary western music>>, <<music of today>> are some of the expression we may use to refer to classical music of the last 100 years. Some academics prefer speaking of hard music, i. e., music that has high levels of codification, in opposition to popular or folk music. The city of Padua has a strong tradition within contemporary western music: the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto was established in 1965 with the aim of promoting both classical and contemporary music. Now it is celebrating its 50-year jubilee saison with a rich programme, including Sibelius’s and Stravinskij’s masterpieces as well as first executions of living composers. The university of Padua hosts the Centre for Computer Sonology, that has been a European leading centre of research for electric, electronic, mixed and digital music. The Padua-born musician Alvise Vidolin has taught live electronics in the music universities of Padua and Venice. The Fondazione Musicale Omizzolo – Peruzzi promotes concerts, exhibitions and open events in this field, as well as the cultural legacy of the local composer Silvio Omizzolo. Many 20th-century composers were born in Veneto, e.g. Riccardo Malipiero, Bruno Maderna, Giuseppe Sinopoli.
Personally, I went to a Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto concert on the 11th of February 2016, including works by Ravel, Stravinskij and the Italian composer Alfredo Casella. The 700-seat concert hall was crowded, and the public extremely appreciated.

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