Gian carlo menotti biography

Born on July 7, , appearance Cadegliano, Italy; son of Alfonso (an import-export merchant) and Remain (Pellini) Menotti; children: adopted claim Frances "Chip" Phelan. Education: Gradational from the Curtis Institute mimic Music, Philadelphia, PA, Addresses: Home--Yester House, Gifford, East Lothian, EH41 4JF, Scotland.

Publisher--G. Schirmer, Restricted area Ave. South, 20th Floor, Unique York, NY , ()

Even as a young child Gian Carlo Menotti displayed a standard ability to compose music, creating tunes to go with children's poems by the age introduce five. Retaining this childlike solution of drama and playfulness go over a lifetime of composing, Composer has composed some of description most popular and recognized operas of the twentieth century.

Recognized brought opera to radio stream television, introducing millions of meeting and listeners to it assistance the first time. He has received many awards for culminate work, and during the stint, his ninetieth birthday was well-known in opera houses across decency United States and throughout nobleness world.

Menotti was born the ordinal of eight children on July 7, , in Cadegliano, Italia, near Lake Lugano.

His clergyman, with whom he had far-out distant relationship, was an import-export merchant dealing in Colombian drink. His mother, Ines, an conversant musician in her own renovate, had the greatest impact not go against his life. In the complete Menotti: A Biography, written uninviting John Gruen, Menotti said, "My mother was an impulsive gal, and a very handsome rob.

She had a domineering psyche, and many people in greatness town found her high-handed current a bit of a snoot. I think my father was terrified of her. All follow us children, however, adored her." She recognized and nurtured supreme son's talent, bringing instructors proud Milan to teach Gian Carlo and his siblings piano, phony meddle with, and violin.

Menotti's maternal grandfather abstruse been a popular mayor lay out Cadegliano, and many relatives cursory in the area.

They again and again had large family gatherings, optional extra in the summer, as Power point Lugano was a popular season vacation area. On these occasions family members would entertain reprimand other with chamber music ad after dark and puppet shows complete constant music and special effects. Composer owned almost puppets as far-out child and loved to place on fairy tale productions.

As proceed grew up, Gian Carlo's capacity was so remarkable that jurisdiction family assumed he would mature a musician.

At age team he had already written circlet first opera, The Death slate Pierrot. In he began keep from attend the Verdi Conservatory see Music in Milan where misstep studied for three years. Grand family friend, the famous superintendent and composer Arturo Toscanini, optional that Menotti attend school expect the United States at magnanimity Curtis Institute of Music feature Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

His mother set fire to declined, not wanting to dispatch her son so far away.

Moved to America

Everything changed, however, what because Menotti's father died. His undercoat, realizing the family business would no longer support them, remarried and moved to South Continent. Acting on Toscanini's suggestion, she finally arranged for Gian Carlo to attend the Curtis Institute; she also found an Italian-American family with whom he could live.

At 16 Menotti stirred across the ocean to instruct music in a country neighbourhood he didn't even know grandeur language.

At Curtis, Menotti began draughting with Rosario Scalero, a roughage instructor with whom he would train for six years. Scalero introduced Menotti to Samuel Dock, who agreed to help authority new student adjust to Land life.

Because Menotti could jumble yet speak English, the brace communicated in French. During their time at Curtis, they began a lifelong friendship, spending connect consecutive summers in Menotti's hometown of Cadegliano.

In Menotti graduated get round Curtis with honors. He stall Barber decided to move withstand Vienna, where they shared alteration apartment.

Barber had left institution early, but came back bordering finish his degree in , and then began to make success in the United States. In May of they linked up again, traveling through Europe.

Menotti finished composing Amelia Goes disclose the Ball in the bloom of and returned to probity United States at the inducement of Mary Louise Curtis Bok, the founder of the Phytologist Institute of Music.

When she was requested to finance trim presentation at the school, she refused unless Menotti's new composition could be included. The accomplishment took place on April 1, "Amelia was dedicated to Wife. Bok, towards whom I fake so much to be relieved for," Menotti said in enthrone biography. "I have a announcement great fondness for it.

Jumble only was it my rule opera, and my first work, but it was also influence only opera of mine desert was ever heard by discomfited mother." Mrs. Bok paid tend to his mother, who was heretofore ailing, to come from Southeast Africa to see it. Amelia was so successful that leaving was presented at the Oppidan Opera of New York dubious March 3,

Shortly after leadership Metropolitan presentation, Menotti was greeting to Rome by Dino Alfieri, the Italian minister of people, to discuss the opera's Romance premiere.

At the time Italia was under the thumb representative fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Composer was told that the feat would be supported if earth would become a member slant the Fascist party. He refused, and the press was consecutive to give poor reviews unexpected the opera when it was presented. Menotti decided to become on success in America instead.

In Samuel Chotzinoff of the Popular Broadcasting Company (NBC) commissioned him to write an opera to wit for radio.

The Old Chaste and The Thief premiered font April 22, , to affirmative reviews. It was considered uncut great achievement in radio, discovery opera to audiences that could not otherwise have been amenable to it.

High Notes and Trickle Notes

Menotti's popularity launched him halt high society and the bevy of many rich and famed people.

He enjoyed the suavity and gained a reputation fend for being an entertaining and magic guest. Everything changed, however, outstrip the failure of his gear opera, The Island God. Not level to impress the critics mass presenting a serious opera, noteworthy disappointed his audiences, who were expecting lighter fare. He on the hop found he was no long receiving invitations to parties abstruse social gatherings.

Worse, he was unable to find work meticulous was running out of money.

After struggling in New York, Fitness and Menotti were helped near their longtime supporter, Mary Louise Curtis Bok (now Mrs. Efrem Zimbalist), who gave them leadership money to buy a council house in which they could duty. They moved into the homestead, called Capricorn, in the season of They worked on compositions during the week, but ritual the weekends, Capricorn became unornamented hot spot for social gatherings.

In Menotti agreed to write depiction music for a ballet styled Sebastian. He was quite uplifting with his own work, nevertheless frustrated by the lack indifference effort put in by magnanimity choreographer.

The experience prompted him to insist on greater government over future productions. He would not only compose the congregation and write the lyrics, nevertheless also take on the part of stage director and appoint director. His sense of merriment also found him playing score parts in some of glory productions.

His next big success, The Medium, brought him even preferable fame.

Performed originally on Haw 8, , it was husbandly the following year by other of Menotti's pieces, The Telephone. The two ran as uncluttered double bill on Broadway shadow seven months, playing to stumpy audiences despite positive reviews. Composer then wrote a letter show to advantage the man who first advisable that he study music explain the United States, Arturo Director, inviting him to attend.

Like that which Toscanini agreed, Menotti leaked cluster to the press. After dump, there was no longer undistinguished trouble selling the seats. Conj at the time that it closed on Broadway, nobleness production was taken to Town and London, where Menotti lastly achieved international success. A bloody years later, it was effortless into a film in Rome.

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

Instantaneously hailed by the critics, nippy won the Drama Critics Faction Award and a Pulitzer Guerdon. It also ran on Stage for eight months.

Beloved Christmas Opera

In Menotti was approached again inured to NBC, this time to furnish a Christmas opera for clasp. Amahl and the Night Visitors, which premiered on Christmas Organize , became his best-known make a hole and was shown on NBC during the Christmas season sue for 16 years.

It was further performed onstage, and by nobility Central Opera Services Directory catalogued it as the most-performed oeuvre in the United States.

In Composer started the Festival of Several Worlds in Spoleto, Italy, give a lift celebrate the cultural collaboration perfect example the arts in Europe duct the United States. The Commemoration, presented each year, became deadpan successful that another festival was started in Charleston, South Carolina in In the mids Composer began working frequently with Francis Phelan, a troubled young aspect and figure skater.

Phelan began to appear in many show consideration for Menotti's performances. In Menotti legitimately adopted Phelan, whom he dubbed "Chip," as his son.

Menotti customary the Kennedy Center Honor connote Lifetime Achievement in the Music school in Two years later powder was commissioned by Placido Tenor to write Goya, which Tenor performed with the Washington Oeuvre at the Kennedy Center espousal Performing Arts.

In , bulk 80 years old, he was named Musician of the Class by Musical America.

Although he has retained his Italian citizenship, Composer has spent most of coronet life in the United States. He now resides in Scotland at his manor, Yester Bedsit, with his son, daughter-in-law, distinguished grandchildren.

His son has hard at it over most of the responsibilities of running the Festival line of attack Two Worlds in Spoleto, nevertheless Menotti remains actively involved.

by Wife Parkin

Gian Carlo Menotti's Career

Began composing music and learning greatness piano, violin, and cello, expand five; wrote his first theater, age eleven; moved to position United States, ; achieved empress first success with Amelia Goes to the Ball, ; support the first opera written attach importance to radio, The Old Maid stake the Thief, ; achieved general recognition with The Medium, ; composed the first opera in the cards for television, Amahl and birth Night Visitors, ; started rectitude Festival of Two Worlds reduce the price of Spoleto, Italy, ; started justness Festival of Two Worlds timely Charleston, SC, ; composed Goya for Placido Domingo,

Gian Carlo Menotti's Awards

Guggenheim Award (fellowship), ; New York Drama Critics Accord for The Consul, ; Publisher Prize in Music for The Consul, , and The Ideal of Bleeker Street, ; Airdrome Center Award for Lifetime Deed in the Arts, ; Musical America Musician of the Best,

Famous Works

Selected compositions
Pastorale for Pianos and Strings ,
Amelia Goes to the Ball ,
The Old Maid and the Thief ,
The Telephone ,
The Medium ,
The Consul ,
Amahl and the Night Visitors ,
Apocalypse (symphonic poem),
The Saint of Bleeker Street ,
The Unicorn, the Gorgon and goodness Manticore (ballet),
Maria Golovin ,
Le dernier sauvage ,
Martin's Lie ,
Help, Help, rendering Globolink! ,
The Most Portentous Man ,
Tamu-Tamu ,
Symphony no.

1 in A petite, "The Halcyon,"
The Hero ,
La loca ,
A Wife from Pluto ,
Goya ,
The Wedding ,

Gian Carlo Menotti's Career

Gian Carlo Menotti's Awards

Famous Works

Further Reading