# Massimo Di Gesu

Massimo Di Gesu is an Italian composer, born in 1970.

## Academic studies

At the Milan Conservatory Di Gesu attained the Diploma in Piano in 1992, and the Diploma in Composition in 1995. He studied composition with Bruno Bettinelli, and piano with Jole Mantegazza and Anita Porrini, one of Cortot's and Benedetti Michelangeli's pupils. Besides further piano studies with Valerio Premuroso, he attended post-graduate composition courses at the Petrassi Academy (Parma), at the University of Central England (Birmingham), and at the University of Leeds.

## Style

His approach to composition (alien to fashionable currents, and based on a distinctly atonal harmonic idiom) focuses on the symbols hidden in the syntax of sounds. His language is characterised by the search for a perceptible attraction, according to what he himself refers to as the "principle of necessity", linking the elements of the musical narrative as an ineludible condition of its vitality, i.e. significance.

## Partnerships and collaborations

Di Gesu's debut at La Scala Theatre took place in May 2013, when La Scala String Quartet premiered his "Verdigo", a work which the ensemble had commissioned on the occasion of the bicentennial of Giuseppe Verdi's birth. La Scala String Quartet had already played Di Gesu's works such as "Ansikte mot ansikte" (for Serate Musicali - Milano, and Ente Concerti Pesaro) and "WOLFiliGrANG" (at the Rovereto Mozart Festival).
In 2014 the Teatro La Fenice (Venice) commissioned from him "Luci d'estate" which was premiered by the Ex Novo Ensemble in July of the same year.
Other artistic partners of Di Gesu's are
* Peter Bradley-Fulgoni, who has performed works of his in venues like St Martin-in-the-Fields - London, Salle Cortot - Paris, Skrjabin Museum, Richter Memorial Apartment – Moscow; besides, he has included various works of his in his CDs "PianOLYPHONY" and "PianOLYPTYCHS".
* Wiener Virtuosen (musicians of the Wiener Philharmoniker)
* Ensemble Strumentale Scaligero (musicians of La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra)
* Maurizio Simeoli
* Mariangela Vacatello (Carnegie Hall - New York)
* Duo Favalessa-Semeraro (Società Filarmonica di Trento, Circolo Filologico of Milan)
* Maurizio Zanini (Rovereto Mozart Festival)
* Trio Dansi (Università Bocconi - Milan)
* Arcturus (Leeds Art Gallery)
* I Virtuosi Italiani (University of Nottingham, Newbury Spring Festival).

## Further fields of interest

Poems by Di Gesu, such as “La vita è un sogno” and “Al giardino”, have been recited by Maria Brivio and Federika Brivio within the radio broadcast, Diamo l’Abbrivio.
Computer-based drawings of his appear on the cover of the CD “PianOLYPHONY” recorded by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni (Foxglove Audio - FOX091), and in the score of “Geometria di un diletto” (edition db).

## Partial list of works

* iridHESSEnza (2024) for flute and guitar
* A view from the pier (2020) for string orchestra
* Lilith (2020) for piano
* Rima petrosa (2019) for piano
* Das Eisemeer (2018) for piano
* Fulgida (2018) for piano
* Dionisiaco (2016) for piano
* Verdigo (2013) for string quartet
* Im Tempo eines Walzers (2012) for wind quintet and string quintet
* Aristocanto (2012) for voice and piano
* Geometria di un diletto (2011) for flute, clarinet, cello
* Omaggio a Novaro (2011) for flute and piano
* Sonata in 'F.' (2009) for cello and piano
* Music stamps (2006) for piano
* Through a glass... (2001) for piano
* Schegge (2001) for violin, cello, piano
* Trilogia dell'assenza (1999-2000) for piano
* Ansikte mot ansikte (1995-2000) for string quartet