Dall'Alba al Tramonto
Baritone: Alessandro Maffucci
Piano: Roberto Russo
Dall'Alba al Tramonto, based on a set of poems by Giovanni Pascoli, was written in 2006 for the splendid Italian duo of Alessandro Maffucci (tenor) and Roberto Russo (piano). The première was given on Saturday April 21st at Pieve Romanica di San Leolino, Panzano in Chianti, Italy. It received further performances in Italy before the work was toured in the UK. Concerts here included St. James's Piccadilly (London) and a sell-out performance at the Italian Cultural Institute.
Introduction
Giovanni Pascoli (1855-1912) was one of Italy's best-loved poets. He studied at the University of Bologna, a period when he flirted with socialism, graduating in Greek literature in 1882. He went on to teach in several high schools before succeeding his tutor, Giosuè Carducci, as professor in literature in Bologna. By this time his leanings were of a nationalist, patriotic character, and his subsequent poetry had a marked influence on later Italian poets. He settled in Barga (Garfagnana) with his sister Mariù.