Why a composer shall be able to conduct his/her own works?

It is a matter of fact that most of today’s better known composers are also conductors, some of them limits his/her activity to their music, some pursue two parallel careers.

In the recent years musicians such as Oliver Knussen, Pierre Boulez, Krzysztof Penderecki, Peter Eötvös, John Adams, Tomas Adés have worked both on stage and off stage bringing their music to the audience.

In the past, musicians such as Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Leonard Bernstein pursued both careers at the highest levels and are nowadays part of the story of our musical tradition.

It is known that Pierre Boulez himself, began to conduct just because he didn’t find conductors capable, or willing to perform his music like he wanted. Probably the history of music would have been different if he didn’t begin to conduct.

For a composer it is not necessary to have a career as a conductor, but it is absolutely mandatory to be able to trasmit his/her idea to the musicians and conducting is one of the ways to do this.

This workshops will focus on three very practical issues:

• conducting technique
• study of the score from the conductor’s point of view
• how to transmit your idea to the musicians

The workshop will last 5 hours, about 1 hour per day.

There will be group as well as individual lessons according to the needs of the students.

ANDREA VITELLO

Andrea Vitello gained an international reputation thanks to his Warner Classics CD with I Solisti della Scala, with music by Igor Stravinsky, Peter Eötvös, Alessio Elia, Rita Ueda and Albertas Navickas, praised with words such as: “imposing performance” (Enrico Girardi, il Corriere della Sera), “highest standards of intonation and blend” and “beautifully lyrical and detailed” (Remy Franck, Pizzicato), “Fabulous” (Colin Clarke, Fanfare), “sharp and accurate” (Angelo Foletto, La Repubblica).

Praised for his musicality and his skillful expression on the podium, after a very successful Italian tour with Budapest Symphony Orchestra MAV that touched halls like Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari and Sala Verdi in Milan, he was invited by Nice Philharmonic Orchestra, ERT Greek National Radio Television Orchestra, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and Plovdiv Opera.

In the USA he conducted at Carnegie Hall an extraordinary performance of Histoire du Soldat with the actor John Palladino and prémiered Tristan Murail’s “The Bronze Age” with Argento ensemble at Dweck Center in Brooklyn.

In Russia he debuted with Khabarovsk Philharmonic Orchestra immediately starting a cooperation with the “Soloists of Russia“ Chamber Orchestra that conducts in a remarkable tour ended at Perm Philharmonic with a concert broadcasted in the entire Region.

An unusually versatile musician, as artistic director of events such as Antal Dorati Competition in Budapest Andrea proved his innovative approach to programming and audience development mixing masterpieces like Debussy’s “La mer” and Bartók ‘s “Concerto for orchestra” with new music by emerging composers and put together musicians like Peter Eötvös and Tamás Vásáry on the same stage.

A keen interpreter of the contemporary repertoire, he conducted about 100 premiéres by authors such as Peter Eötvös, Tristan Murail, Oliver Schneller, Andrea Portera, Alessio Elia as well as young composers.

He achieved twice the “5 stars” award from Musica Magazine for his recordings of Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire (with the voice of Anna Clementi and BIOS Ensemble) and Eötvös’ Octet (with I Solisti del Teatro alla Scala di Milano).

He is often invited as memer of the jury of international conducting competitions such as European Union Conducting Competition, Almaty International Competition for Conductors, Giancarlo Facchinetti Competition for Contemporary Music.

PRESS:

“Vitello obtained an elegant phrasing, supported by a solid rhythm that enlighted appropriately the passionate thrills of the music, reaching in the Adagio very moving moments”
La Gazzetta de Mezzogiorno

“Stravinsky’s Octet for Wind Instruments shines for a clarity rarely listened in past recordings”
Il Giornale della Musica

“Under Andrea Vitello’s baton, I Solisti della Scala achieve highest standards of intonation and blend.”
Pizzicato Magazine

“His performances stand out for the refined balances and original ideas about both tempos and phrasings. I consider Andrea Vitello one of the most interesting young conductors of his generation.”
Donato Renzetti

Why a composer shall be able to conduct his/her own works?

It is a matter of fact that most of today’s better known composers are also conductors, some of them limits his/her activity to their music, some pursue two parallel careers.

In the recent years musicians such as Oliver Knussen, Pierre Boulez, Krzysztof Penderecki, Peter Eötvös, John Adams, Tomas Adés have worked both on stage and off stage bringing their music to the audience.

In the past, musicians such as Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Leonard Bernstein pursued both careers at the highest levels and are nowadays part of the story of our musical tradition.

It is known that Pierre Boulez himself, began to conduct just because he didn’t find conductors capable, or willing to perform his music like he wanted. Probably the history of music would have been different if he didn’t begin to conduct.

For a composer it is not necessary to have a career as a conductor, but it is absolutely mandatory to be able to trasmit his/her idea to the musicians and conducting is one of the ways to do this.

This workshops will focus on three very practical issues:

• conducting technique
• study of the score from the conductor’s point of view
• how to transmit your idea to the musicians

The workshop will last 5 hours, about 1 hour per day.

There will be group as well as individual lessons according to the needs of the students.

ANDREA VITELLO

Andrea Vitello gained an international reputation thanks to his Warner Classics CD with I Solisti della Scala, with music by Igor Stravinsky, Peter Eötvös, Alessio Elia, Rita Ueda and Albertas Navickas, praised with words such as: “imposing performance” (Enrico Girardi, il Corriere della Sera), “highest standards of intonation and blend” and “beautifully lyrical and detailed” (Remy Franck, Pizzicato), “Fabulous” (Colin Clarke, Fanfare), “sharp and accurate” (Angelo Foletto, La Repubblica).

Praised for his musicality and his skillful expression on the podium, after a very successful Italian tour with Budapest Symphony Orchestra MAV that touched halls like Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari and Sala Verdi in Milan, he was invited by Nice Philharmonic Orchestra, ERT Greek National Radio Television Orchestra, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and Plovdiv Opera.

In the USA he conducted at Carnegie Hall an extraordinary performance of Histoire du Soldat with the actor John Palladino and prémiered Tristan Murail’s “The Bronze Age” with Argento ensemble at Dweck Center in Brooklyn.

In Russia he debuted with Khabarovsk Philharmonic Orchestra immediately starting a cooperation with the “Soloists of Russia“ Chamber Orchestra that conducts in a remarkable tour ended at Perm Philharmonic with a concert broadcasted in the entire Region.

An unusually versatile musician, as artistic director of events such as Antal Dorati Competition in Budapest Andrea proved his innovative approach to programming and audience development mixing masterpieces like Debussy’s “La mer” and Bartók ‘s “Concerto for orchestra” with new music by emerging composers and put together musicians like Peter Eötvös and Tamás Vásáry on the same stage.

A keen interpreter of the contemporary repertoire, he conducted about 100 premiéres by authors such as Peter Eötvös, Tristan Murail, Oliver Schneller, Andrea Portera, Alessio Elia as well as young composers.

He achieved twice the “5 stars” award from Musica Magazine for his recordings of Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire (with the voice of Anna Clementi and BIOS Ensemble) and Eötvös’ Octet (with I Solisti del Teatro alla Scala di Milano).

He is often invited as memer of the jury of international conducting competitions such as European Union Conducting Competition, Almaty International Competition for Conductors, Giancarlo Facchinetti Competition for Contemporary Music.

PRESS:

“Vitello obtained an elegant phrasing, supported by a solid rhythm that enlighted appropriately the passionate thrills of the music, reaching in the Adagio very moving moments”
La Gazzetta de Mezzogiorno

“Stravinsky’s Octet for Wind Instruments shines for a clarity rarely listened in past recordings”
Il Giornale della Musica

“Under Andrea Vitello’s baton, I Solisti della Scala achieve highest standards of intonation and blend.”
Pizzicato Magazine

“His performances stand out for the refined balances and original ideas about both tempos and phrasings. I consider Andrea Vitello one of the most interesting young conductors of his generation.”
Donato Renzetti