Adriano Guarnieri (born September 10, 1947, in

Sustinente Sustinente ( Mantovano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about southeast of Milan and about southeast of Mantua. Sustinente borders the following municipalities: Bagnolo San Vito ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

) is an Italian composer of

contemporary classical music Contemporary classical music is Western art music composed close to the present day. At the beginning of the 21st-century classical music, 21st century, it commonly referred to the post-1945 Modernism (music), post-tonal music after the death of ...

Biography

Guarnieri studied at the Conservatory in Bologna where he got his diploma in

musical composition Musical composition can refer to an Originality, original piece or work of music, either Human voice, vocal or Musical instrument, instrumental, the musical form, structure of a musical piece or to the process of creating or writing a new pie ...

with

Giacomo Manzoni Giacomo Manzoni (born Milan 26 September 1932) is an Italian composer. He studied composition from 1948 in Messina with Gino Contilli, and continued his studies from 1950 to 1956 at the Milan Conservatory. In 1955 he obtained a doctorate in ...

and another diploma in

choral music A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...

with Tito Gotti. He started his activity as a conductor as well, founding the Nuovo Ensemble

Bruno Maderna Bruno Maderna (born Bruno Grossato, 21 April 1920 – 13 November 1973) was an Italian composer, conductor and academic teacher. Life Maderna was born Bruno Grossato in Venice but later decided to take the name of his mother, Caterina Carolina M ...

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

. He taught

at the

Milan Conservatory The Milan Conservatory, also known as the Conservatorio di Milano and the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, is a Music school, college of music in Milan, Italy. History The conservatory was established by a royal decree of 1807 in Milan, capital ...

, Florence,

Pesaro Conservatory Pesaro (; ) is a (municipality) in the Italian region of Marche, capital of the province of Pesaro and Urbino, on the Adriatic Sea. According to the 2011 census, its population was 95,011, making it the second most populous city in the Marche, ...

and

Bologna Conservatory The Conservatorio Giovanni Battista Martini (previously known as the Liceo Musicale di Bologna, and better known in English as the Bologna Conservatory) is a college of music in Bologna, Italy. The conservatory opened on 3 December 1804, as the L ...

. In his earliest works, from ''Musica per un’azione immaginaria'' to ''L’art pour l’art?'', he tries to incorporate graphical elements into the music, and in so doing, he clearly shows his structuralist approach, which only later becomes more informal. ''Nafshi'', ''Recit'' and other compositions show a turning point in his way of composing, since he pays more attention to the form, which is thought of as a synthesis of a fluid episodic multiplicity. Through his Pierrot series he was able to reveal a "melodic" component of his music which broadens in the opera ''Trionfo della notte'' (1986–87 season at the

Teatro Comunale di Bologna The Teatro Comunale di Bologna is an opera house in Bologna, Italy. Typically, it presents eight operas with six performances during its November to April season. While there had been various theatres presenting opera in Bologna since the early ...

), which won the Premio Abbiati as the best composition of the year. Among his later works are ''Romanza alla notte'' No. 2, for

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

and

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, ...

(

Parma Parma (; ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmesan, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,986 inhabitants as of 2025, ...

, June 20, 1991), proof of the deep relationship existing between the composer and

Pier Paolo Pasolini Pier Paolo Pasolini (; 5 March 1922 – 2 November 1975) was an Italian poet, film director, writer, actor and playwright. He is considered one of the defining public intellectuals in 20th-century Italian history, influential both as an artist ...

's poetics. He dedicated to Pasolini ''Il glicine'', for soprano, reciting voice, amplified flute and

(

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

, July 2, 1993). In ''Orfeo cantando... tolse...'', ten lyric actions based on text freely taken by

Poliziano Agnolo (or Angelo) Ambrogini (; 14 July 1454 – 24 September 1494), commonly known as Angelo Poliziano () or simply Poliziano, anglicized as Politian, was an Italian classical scholar and poet of the Florentine Renaissance. His scholars ...

’s Orfeo (1994), the beauty and the musicality of

’s verses, their expressive strength and their sound, the lyric aura surrounding their words, determine the musical form, and an idea of dramaturgy which is totally internal to the music and to the spatiality it created. His collaboration with

Giovanni Raboni Giovanni Raboni (22 January 1932 – 16 September 2004) was an Italian poet, translator and literary critic. Biography Raboni was born in Milan, Italy, the second son of Giuseppe, a clerk at Milan commune, and Matilde Sommariva. In October 19 ...

led to the creation of ''Quare tristis'', for soloists, chorus, two instrumental groups, two tubas and live electronics (

Biennale di Venezia The Venice Biennale ( ; ) is an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice, Italy. There are two main components of the festival, known as the Art Biennale () and the Architecture Biennale (), which are held in alternating ye ...

, 1995). In 1999, in

Strasbourg Strasbourg ( , ; ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est Regions of France, region of Geography of France, eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin Departmen ...

, the premiere of Pensieri canuti, cantata for soloists, chorus, two ensembles in double chorus and live electronics, again based on a text by Raboni; on April 6, 2000, at the Basilica di S.Marco in

, ''Passione secondo Matteo'', linked to Pasolini's film. On October 20, 2002, in

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

, the opera-video ''Medea'', for soloists,

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song), the part of a song that is repeated several times, usually after each verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in whic ...

and

, was premiered. In 2003 ''Medea'' was awarded the prestigious Premio Abbiati by the Italian musical critic in the section dedicated to novelties. In February 2004 in

Turin Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...

''La terra del tramonto'' was performed by the Orchestra Nazionale della RAI. The opera ''Pietra di Diaspro'' was premiered in 2007 for the

Teatro dell'Opera di Roma The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma (Rome Opera House) is an opera house in Rome, Italy. Originally opened in November 1880 as the 2,212 seat ''Costanzi Theatre'', it has undergone several changes of name as well modifications and improvements. The pres ...

and

Ravenna Festival The Ravenna Festival is a summer festival of opera and classical music (as well as dance, jazz, ethnic, musical theater, ballett, sacred music, electronic music, drama, film, plus conventions and exhibitions) held in the city of Ravenna, Italy an ...

. In 2013 he has started a collaboration with

Tempo Reale Tempo Reale is an electronic music research, production, and educational centre, based in Florence, Italy. It was founded by composer Luciano Berio, who served as the centre's director from 1987 to 2000, and as honorary president until his death ...

, the centre for music research devoted to music technology based in Florence. With the musicians and technicians of the center Guarneri has realized three music work with an intense use of live electronics, premiered and performed in Florence, Ravenna, Torino, Spoleto.

Works

* Excerpts for 11 strings (1974-1977) * Nafshi for flute solo with tape ad libitum (1975) * Musica per un’azione immaginaria for strings quintet and tape ad libitum (1976) * L’art pour l’art? for strings quartet, tape and 8 instruments (1976) * Mystere for 7 instruments (1978) * Abschied for flute and harp (1978) * Air (Trio No. 2) for 2 violins and viola (1978) * Recit (Trio No. 1) for piano, viola and cello (1978) * Alia for orchestra (1978) * Poesia in forma di rosa for 13 instruments (1979) * Insonora for viola (1979) * Arco for violin solo (1979) * Pierrot Suite for 3 chamber groups (1980) * Pierrot Pierrot! for flutes, celesta and percussion (1980) * Arioso cantabile for flute, clarinet, piano and percussion (2 performers) (1982) * Le notti mie son roche di grida for flute and harp (also harpsichord or vibraphone or celesta ad lib.) (1982) * ...di sussulti e di tremori for piano and orchestra (1982) * Ein Lied an Gott for soprano, bass flute (also piccolo), 2 organs, percussion and chamber music group (1982) * ...di un pastore errante for small chamber music group (8 performers) (1983) * Romanze zur Nacht (Romanza alla notte n. 1) for cello and 11 performers (1983) * Pierrot Suite II for concertante flute and 16 players (1984) * E... le ombre fuggano... for 2 flutes (1984) * Sospeso d’incanto for piano (1984) * Concerto for violin and orchestra (1985) * Trionfo della notte. Preludio atto I, for 19 performers with percussion concerto (1985) * “...il tubare della tortora... non odi?...” for soprano (offstage), perussion, concertante, orchestra (1985) * Trionfo della notte. Lyrical action on text by Pier Paolo Pasolini (1985) * Passioni perse for flute and piano (1986) * Disteso for 8 instruments (1986) * Sospeso (Trio No. 3) for flute, violin and piano (1987) * Parafrasi: 4 th scene from " Trionfo della notte" for 2 sopranos, tenor, flute, piano (celesta), percussion, cello (1987) * “...d’incanto!” for piano and tape "circular loop" (1988) * “...dal nulla... al nulla...” (Trio n. 4) for bass clarinet and 2 percussion (1988) * “Velato... del nuovo mistero” for piano and 4 instrumental groups with magnetic tape (1988) * Romanza alla notte n. 2 (Concerto II) for violin and orchestra (1988) * Piccola anima for narrator, soprano, and 7 players (1988) * “sull’isola della libertà...” for 2 sopranos and 12 instruments (1989) * Piccola anima. II versione for flute, piano and soprano (1989) * “Oltre l’anima tua...” (homage to Mozart) for orchestra (1989) * “perdo il futuro della tua grazia” for soprano, narrator (on tape), flute, violin, percussion (1989-1990) * "Per Armando" for solo guitar (1990) * Giustizia cara... for 3 sopranos, narrator and orchestra on texts by Pier Paolo Pasolini (1990) * “...e per lunghi filamenti...” for soprano, piano concertante and 13 instruments (1991) * Medea (1991), opera film, for soli, chorus and orchestra (premiere: 2002) * “Elision” for 12 instruments (9 players) "Homage to Charles Ives" (1992) * Mit Dämpfer for solo trumpet in C and B flat (1992) * Preludio alla notte for solo flute (1992) * “infinite Risonanze... inquiete..." for amplified guitar, tape and live electronics (1992) * Trio No. 6 (Homage to Camillo Togni in 70 th birthday) for flute, violin and percussion (1992) * Il glicine for soprano, voice narrator, flute and violin (all amplified) (1993) * “per il sole... per il cielo... per il mare” loosely based on Medea, for 2 sopranos and string quartet (1993) * Orfeo cantando... tolse... 10 lyrical actions loosely based on text from ' Orpheus of Poliziano (1994) * Medea Suite. 6 Songs from Medea opera film for soft voice and amplified soprano and orchestra (1995) * Quare tristis for soloists, female choir, 2 instrumental groups, 2 tubes, electronic spatialization (1995) * Resistenza 1995 for amplified female voice (1995) * “Grido ai miei occhi, Sarajevo...” for amplified piano and two pianos on tape (1995) * Il pianto della scavatrice for amplified female voice, flute, bass clarinet, violin and cello (1996) * Omaggio a Mina 6 songs for light voice, soprano and orchestra (1996) * A Giacomo Manzoni o delle dissolvenze sonore for alto flute and soprano (amplified) (1997) * Blandine Ballata for piano and spoken voices (1997) * “... Uno spazio che tremola celeste...” for string quartet (1997) * Traviata. Preludio Atto III for quartet and string orchestra (transcription) (1997) * Pensieri canuti for soloists, chorus, two ensemble on double choir and live electronics (1998) * “...canto un ricordo...” two songs for light solo voice amplified (1998) * Da questi occhi... for female amplified voice and ensemble (1998) * Duo Concertante for solo flute and violin and ensemble (1998) * Passione Secondo Matteo, Cantata for soloists, choir and ensemble (1999) * B.A.C.H. (the 250th) for amplified flute (2000) * Medea opera video for soloists, soft voice, choir, orchestra, instrumental solos and live electronics (2000) * Dedica. Praeludium Es moll for violin, flute, harpsichord or piano and cello (2000) * In Badia fiesolana 1980 n. 2, for chamber orchestra (2002) * Sospeso d’incanto N. 1 (with live electronics), for piano and live electronics (2002) * Grido ai miei occhi Sarajevo, for ensemble with piano, concertante guitar and electric bass (2002) * Epifania dell’eterno, for solo violin (2002) * Suono a cielo aperto, for soprano and strings (2002) * In Badia fiesolana 1980 n. 1, for ensemble (2002) * La terra del tramonto Live-Symphony n. 1, for large orchestra and live electronics (2003) * Salmo n. 50, for voices and orchestra (2003) * Stagioni, Dura stagion, dal sole accesa... for flute, violin and strings (2003) * Sospeso d’incanto N. 2, for piano (2003) * La città capovolta, for amplified guitar and recitation voice (2003) * Sull’onda notturna del mare infinito, to Roberto Fabbriciani for bass flute and live electronics (2003) * Solo di donna lyrical action for flute, harp, female vocals, voices on tape and live electronics (2004) * La terra del tramonto - Short Symphony, for orchestra (2004) * Se questo è un uomo, on a text by Serena Brioschi, for solo recitation voice and strings (2004) * ...del mare infinito for bass flute (2004) * I fili luccicano, cadenza for solo violin (2005) * La memoria del futuro, for narrator, soprano and ensemble (2005) * Pietra di diaspro, for 7 soloists, choir, instrumental solos, orchestra and live electronics (2005) * Kammersymphonie n. 3 for 4 saxophones and chamber orchestra (2005) * Ostinato n. 2 for bass flute and videoclip (2005) * Opus 1 for solo guitar (2005) * Fili bianco-velati for solo violin (2005) * Opus 2 for tenor saxophone solo (2006) * Opus 3 for four saxophones (2006) * Omaggio a Raboni for solo flute (2006) * Live-Symphony No 4 for orchestra (2006) * Sopra un alto monte, for vocal ensemble and two instruments (2009) * Processo a Costanza, chamber opera for voices and instruments (2009) * Tenebrae Opera video for soli on tape, soli in theatre, three vocal soloists, instrumental ensemble and live electronics, on texts by Massimo Cacciari - Martin Heidegger, Georg Trakl (2010)

References

External links

Adriano Guarnieri official site
* ttps://www.youtube.com/user/MusicaContemporanea1/ dedicated channel on youtube {{DEFAULTSORT:Guarnieri, Adriano 1947 births Italian composers Italian male composers Living people Academic staff of Milan Conservatory Academic staff of the Conservatorio Giovanni Battista Martini