Gianandrea Gavazzeni's Centennial Imprint

He may have been born 100 years ago, but his cranky, private, reserved, melancholy facade still lingers in Italy. Bergamo-born maestro Gianandrea Gavazzeni is being commemorated by Bergamo's Teatro Donizetti, appropriately enough as the maestro who never let anyone forget his hometown roots. Much of Bergamo's landscapes including "Bergamo Alta" -- the historic medieval section of the city -- was used to inspire his musical compositions (notably his "Concerto Bergamasco"). 

As Principal Conductor at La Scala for almost half a century, Gavazzeni not only counted Callas, Gencer, and Karajan as close friends, but also Mascagni, Puccini, Pizzetti & Giordano -- and fiercely championed their works. He died in 1996 of pneumonia complications while being cared for by his second wife, soprano Denia Mazzola. As intricate as his life in Milan was, he preferred simple meals in Bergamo where afterward, he'd sit at the piano and play Donizetti. And then he'd play the St. Elmo's Fire theme song. No joke.

Comments

[Francois]

Hi Opera Chic

We had the privilege to experience Denia Mazzola in South Africa in die 1990s. There were some stories of her being thrown out of his castle after he died. Was that true?

Francois

[El Cajon]

Top notch conductor, very old school. Only time I heard him live was at Met Trovatore in 1976. Pavarotti, Scotto, Verrett, Matteo Manuguerra, and Jimmy Morris. Such a high-powered group of singers could have easily turned the performance into a series of solo turns. Instead, we got a very integrated performance, somewhat muted (except for Verrett), but very effective.

But it was almost like a step back in time. Abbado and Muti and maybe Fabio Luisi are the only Italian conducters who give such careful attention to detail and create such a lyrical flow, at least in the Italian repertory.

If you've seen Visconti's The Garden of the Finzi-Continis or Il Gattopardo films you'll get an idea of the Italian cultural tradition that Gavezzeni was part of.

So thanks O.C. for reminding us about this great conductor!

[Sim]

I love his Anna Bolena with Callas.

[Paolo Fabretti]

Grazie per aver ricordato questo grande Maestro. Il suo Simon Boccanegra uscito per la RCA è una meraviglia.

(PS: Il primo link non funziona!)

[nick]

He certainly was an interesting person and apparently quite a "character". It would be extremely nice someday to have the real story about him and his (artistic AND private) life, seeing as he played such an important role in the last great moments of operatic history.
Perhaps we have to wait until a few more of those poeple die off before the truth can be told in an objective way, if that sort of objectiveness really does exist.

[Bill Philin-Ploplis]

I just recently heard his 1961 live Scala performance of La Battaglia di Legnano. Jeez, he set that house on fire with intensely passionate but precise conducting. And Corelli, Stella, and Bastianini never sang better. God, Corelli was titanic when ignited by Maestro Gavazzeni. That opening night audience went totally crazy by the conclusion.