Aldo Brizzi

composer

OPERA

Writing operas, for me, is materialising the dream that was reality in Verdi's time: writing about stories strong, powerful and well known, deep but easy to follow. The music must be new for the "cultured audience" and "popular" for people who come out of the theatre singing the melodies.

MAMBO MISTICO (2005)
Opera-musical by Alfredo Arias, lyrics by Gonzalo Demaria and René de Ceccaty, music by Aldo Brizzi
for 8 singers, ensemble and electronics
dur : 2h 20’
Commission by Théâtre National de Chaillot
World Première: Nantes – Espace 44, 2005
Stage direction : Alfredo Arias

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GABRIEL ET GABRIEL (2014)
Chamber opera, story and adaptation Pauline Alphen, lyrics Jaques Haurogné, music Aldo Brizzi
For 4 singers guitar and piano
Dur: 1h 10’
Commission by AlmaViva Ensemble
World Première: Théâtre de Rungis – FestiVal de Marne, 2014
Stage direction: John Dew
Choreography: Mei-Hong Lin

Gabriel et Gabriel - trailer

ÓPERA DOS TERREIROS (The Opera of Sacred Circles - 2018-19)
Libretto Aldo Brizzi, Jorge Portugal / music Aldo Brizzi
Opera in three parts for 7 singers, choir, percussion & electronics
Dur. 1h 40'
Première (excerpts) Grenoble, Musiques Nomades - 2019 - Complete version: Salvador Bahia - Concha Acustica, 2020 - stage direction - Aldo Brizzi

Excerpts from the Ópera dos Terreiros

AMOR AZUL (2016-2020)

Opera in two acts based on "Gitagovinda" by Jayadeva.
Libretto Aldo Brizzi (collaboration André Vallias)
Music Aldo Brizzi and Gilberto Gil
Opera in two acts for 7 singers, 2 solo dancers, ballet, choir and full orchestra.
Dur. 2h 45'
Première: Paris - Auditorium de Radio France - Dec 2022).
Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra by Radio France
Conductor: Aldo Brizzi

Amor Azul - excerpt (n. 16)

JELIN (2021)

Libretto: Aldo Brizzi and Bruno Masi, music Aldo Brizzi
Opera in two acts for 15 singers and orchestra.
Dur. 2h 05'
Première in Alessandria, Sept 17th 2021
Stage direction: Cornelia Geiser
Lake Como Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor: Aldo Brizzi

Habanera from "Jelin"

ORCHESTRA

Wayang Purwa (1978-81) for oboe and orchestra
World Première: Montepulciano, VI Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte, 1981; Cantiere di Montepulciano Orchestra; ob Burkhard Glaetzner, cond. Jan Latham Koenig


Morgana (1986-89) for large orchestra
World Première: Paris, 1989; Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Jan Latham Koenig


Nosce te Ipsum (1993-94) for large orchestra
World Première: Donaueschingen, Donaueschinger Musiktage, 1994;
SWF Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden, cond. Zsolt Nagy

Afrodite (1997) for orchestra
World Première: Palermo 2016, Orchestra del Teatro Massimo, cond. Aldo Brizzi

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Ensemble

Objet d’art (1980) for flute and 8 strings
Prize “Venezia Opera Prima”
World Première: Pavia, 1981; European Community Youth Orchestra, cond. James Judd

Le erbe nella Thule (1984-85) for soprano leggero et 8 instruments
World Première: Paris, Center Pompidou, 1985, Ensemble 2E2M, soprano Judy Wham, cond. Paul Méfano

Il libro dell’interrogazione poetica I (1983-84) for 6 perc. and ensemble
Prize “European Year of Music” - Cologne-Venice-Paris 1985
World Première: Cologne, WDR, 1985; Ensemble Köln, cond. Robert Platz

Il libro dell’interrogazione poetica III (1987) for 3 bass voices, 7 brass instruments, 2 percussion and live electronics
World Première: Royaumont, 1987; Singcircle London, Ens. de cuivres et  percussions de l’InterContemporain, cond. Annick Mink

Kammerkonzert n. 1 (1986) for flute concertante, violin, clarinet and  piano
World Première: Jerusalem, Israel Festival, 1986; Nuovo Ensemble di Torino, cond. Aldo Brizzi

Kammerkonzert n. 2 (1989) for 10 strings
World Première: Antibes, Foundation Sophia  Antipolis, 1989;
String Ensemble by Berlin Philharmonic, cond. Aldo Brizzi

LA LINGUA DELLA SOGLIA (1996-97) for 7 instruments
fl, cl, pf, perc, vl, viola, vc
dur.: 11’
Commissioned by Radio France
World Première: Paris, Radio France, Festival Presence, 1997; Ensemble by Radio France Philharmonic Orch., cond. Tsung Ye

BARRAVENTO (1998) for solo double bass, bass sax, ensemble, live electronics and pre-recorded sequences
cl, clb, trp, tbn, 3 perc, vc, cb
Commissioned by GRAME, Lyon
World Première: Saint-Etienne, Musée d'Art Moderne, 1999
Jean-Pierre Robert, Daniel Kientzy, Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain de Lyon, cond. Daniel Kawka

VELA (2013)
for saxophone and 3 instrumental groups
Dur: 65’
Cycle of 7 pieces, each one having a different saxophone and a different combination of the groups
Saxophone solo from sopranino to contrebasse – Group 1: fl, ob, Cl, fg – Group 2: 2 tr, tbn – Group 3: string quintet

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Chamber Music

PICCOLA SERENATA (1978) for flute, viola et percussion
dur.: 5’
World Première: Lisbon, Gulbenkian Foundation, 1979, Grupo de música contempôranea de Lisboa

SCHIZZI DA BOUDOIR (1981) for clarinet and piano
dur.: 8’
World Première: London, Southbank Center, 1981; Mark van der Wiel, Jan Latham Koenig

CANTO SULLA LONTANANZA (1982) for solo viola
dur.: 10'
World Première: Lisbon, Gulbenkian Foundation, 1982
Antônio de Oliveira e Silva

... DA UN FRAMMENTO (1983) for string quartet
dur.: 6’
Editions Salabert Paris
World Première:  Festival de la Rochelle, 1984, Arditti String Quartet


Listen Canto sula lontananza

MIHASEFER (1986) for sax, percussion and tape
dur.: 12’
Commissioned de French Ministry for Culture
World Première: Metz,  Rencontres Internationales, 1986 Daniel Kientzy, Jean Pierre Drouet
CD Musica Nova 1997

TARDECITA (1994-95) for 2 guitars
dur.: 14’
World Première: Teramo, 1996; Francesco Cuoghi, Massimo Agostinelli
CD “The Labyrinth Trial”, Rara-Kho 1998

ORPHEE (1995) for flute, viola, harp and guitar
dur.: 7’
World Première: Lisbon, Foundation Gulbenkian, 1995; Grupo de Música Cont. de Lisboa, cond. Jorge Peixinho
CD “The Labyrinth Trial”, Rara-Kho 1998

L’EPREUVE DU LABYRINTHE (1995-96) for viola and tape
dur.: 6’
World Première: Lyon, Festival Music en Scene, 1996; Maurizio Barbetti
Tape realized on Grame Studios, Lyon
Commissioned de French Ministry for Culture
CD “The Labyrinth Trial”, Rara-Kho 1998

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Solo Intrument

DE LA TRANSMUTATIONE DE' METALLI I (1983-86) for saxophones (one player)
dur.: 7’
World Première: Paris, GERM, 1985; Daniel Kientzy

DE LA TRANSMUTATIONE DE' METALLI II (1985) for tuba
dur.: 4’
World Première: Nancy, Hotel de Ville, 1985; Mel Culbertson

DE LA TRANSMUTATIONE DE' METALLI III (1985) for double bass
dur.: 11’
Prize “Franco Evangelisti” - Rome 1986
World Première: Nemi, 1986; Marcello Federici

DE LA TRANSMUTATIONE DE' METALLI IV (1988) for percussion
dur.: 8’
Commissioned de French Ministry for Culture
World Première: Nice, Festival Manca, 1988; Thierry Miroglio

DE LA TRANSMUTATIONE DE' METALLI V (1998-89) for violin
dur.: 10’
Prize “Jung Composers Forum”  -  Cologne 1989
World Première: Cologne, WDR, 1989; Sakko Gawriloff

DE LA TRANSMUTATIONE DE' METALLI VI (1990-92) for piano
dur.: 8’
World Première: Bucharest, New Music Festival, 1992; Silvia Belfiore

DE LA TRANSMUTATIONE DE' METALLI VII (2000) for guitar
dur.: 7'
World Première: Bruxelles, Espace Senghor, 2000; Francesco Cuoghi

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Piano music

Giuliana Angela (2001) for piano
dur. 10'
Commissioned by Antasten Festival
World Première: Heilbronn, Antasten Festival, 2001; James Clapperton

Bleu (2001) for piano
dur. 8'
World Première: Amsterdam, Ijsbreker, 2001; Marcel Worms

Fontana Remix (2009) for 4 hands piano & electronics
dur: 4’
World Première: Venice, Fondazione Cini 2009 – duo Spinosa-Calcagnile

Wedgwood (2012) for piano
dur : 7’
World Première: Baku 2012, Azer Muradov

Bianco Papiro (2014) for 4 hands piano
Dur : 8’
World Première: Berlin, BKA (Berliner Kabarettanstalt, Mehringdamm); Yury Krimashi & Jonas Olsson

Video

VOCAL MUSIC

DELLA GRANDE ATTESA (1978-81) for soprano
text by F. Nietzsche
dur. 8'
World Première: Darmstadt, 1982, Brenda Mitchell

WIEDER (2015-16) cycle of lieder for soprano and electronics
text by A. Brizzi
dur. 115'
World Première: Turku, 2017, Graça Reis

PALESTRINA JESU REX (2015) for 3 soloist, chorus and 4 instruments
dur. 5'
World Première: Roma, Scelsi Foundation, 2015

PATER NOSTER (2017) for tenor and 4 instruments
dur. 4'
World Première: Salvador Bahia, 2017, Carlos Eduardo Santos

AVE MARIA (2017) for soprano and 4 instruments
dur. 5'
World Première: Salvador Bahia, 2017, Graça Reis


Palestrina Jesu Rex

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Multimedia

ALTER (2012)
meta-opera for 1 singer, 1 actor, 1 digital performer, electronics
text, videos, music by Aldo Brizzi
dur : 65’
World Première : Leyme, CCAS, 2012, Julien Rouvière – actor, Reis – voice, Aldo Brizzi – electronics, Reina Portuondo - digital performer.

Video

Special project

ENDLESS TRAILS (2002)
cycle of pieces for Neela Bagvath (Indian singer), Wimme Saari (Finland singer), Trio d'Argent (French flutes trio), Terra em Transe (Brazilian percussion), electronics, surround 7.1 & light design
Eletronics realized on Gmvl, Lyon
Commission SACEM and Grenoble Festival 38ème Rugissants
World Première: Grenoble Festival 38ème Rugissants, 2002

Video

Danse and Intermedia

THE LABYRINTH TRIAL
for live instruments, electronics, dance
Choreography: Vera Passos / Videos: Inés Fontenla
World Première: Bruxelles, Espace Senghor, 2000

METADANSE
for singer and virtual dance co.
Virtual choreography: Jie Loon
Première : Pos-Lida, Salvador Bahia, 2013

WIEDER
for soprano, electronics, video art
Video-art: Hirosuke Kitamura
Première: Turku, Finland 2017 / complete version: Rome, 2019

Metadanse

Wieder

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Songs

Meninas de Programa (1994-98)
First recording: Gilberto Gil CD "Brizzi do Brasil"

Mistério de Afrodite (1994-98)
First recording: Teresa Salgueiro, Caetano Veloso CD "Brizzi do Brasil"

Cat's (1994-98)
First recording: Virgínia Rodrigues CD "Brizzi do Brasil"

Velada ou Revelada (1998)
Lyrics by Francisco Serrano
First recording: Virgínia Rodrigues, Nuno Guerreiro, Olodum CD "Brizzi do Brasil"

O Amor (1998)
Lyrics by Francisco Serrano
First recording: Arnaldo Antunes, Margareth Menezes CD "Brizzi do Brasil"

Este era un Gato (1998)
Lyrics by Francisco Serrano
First recording: Ala dos Namorados CD "Brizzi do Brasil"

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Down, down, down (1999)
Lyrics by Francisco Serrano
First recording: Tom Zé CD "Brizzi do Brasil"

Abraça o meu Abraço (1998)
Lyrics by Arnaldo Antunes
First recording: Arnaldo Antunes, Olodum, Daniel Kientzy CD "Brizzi do Brasil"

Ão (2000)
Lyrics by Augusto de Campos
First recording: Caetano Veloso, Augusto de Campos CD "Brizzi do Brasil"

Giuliana (2003)
Lyrics by Aldo Brizzi
First recording: Graça Reis CD "Aço do Açúcar"

A fêmea, o gêmeo (2003)
Lyrics by Carlos Rennó
First recording: Graça Reis CD "Aço do Açúcar"

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Other works

Giacinto Scelsi - Les funerailles d’Alexandre
version by Aldo Brizzi 1988
sax double bass (or bass), cfg, cb, 3 perc.
dur.: 11’
Editions Salabert, Paris
World Première: Strasbourg, Festival Musica, 1988, Gruppo Musica Insieme Cremona, cond. Aldo Brizzi
CD INA/Mémoire vive, Paris 1993

Hector Villa Lobos - Alma brasileira (Choro n. 5)
orchestration by Aldo Brizzi for ensemble
dur.: 10’
World Première:  México, Festival del Centro Historico, 1992, La Camerata, cond. Aldo Brizzi
CD Cenidim, México 1994

Hugo Wolf - Spanishes Liederbuch
Orchestration by Aldo Brizzi for two singers and chamber ensemble
dur.: 75'
Commissioned by Hugo Wolf-Akademie
World Première: Ludwisburg, SchlossFestspiele 2003, cond. Aldo Brizzi

Scott Joplin - Treemonisha, opera in three acts
orchestration by Aldo Brizzi
for 9 singers, chorus, 13 instruments
Dur. 105'
World Première: Núcleo de Ópera da Bahia, Salvador Bahia Brazil, 2106
cond. Aldo Brizzi

Treemonisha Highlights

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ALDO BRIZZI talking about his composition "Vela" (in French)

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The first motion of the immovable - the film

by Sebastiano d'Ayala Valva
Produced by Les Filmes de la Butte, Paris
Co-produced by ARTE and Radio France
Aldo Brizzi artisti director

Price IDFA 2018 (Best first appearance) and Torino Film Festival (Jury Price).

Brizzi on some scenes of the film

ALBUM RECORDINGS

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Commissions

Théâtre National de Chaillot Paris, Donaueschinger Musiktage; Hugo-Wolf-Akademie, Stuttgart; French Ministery for Culture (3); Radio France (2); SACEM; Festival 38e Rugissants of Grenoble, Royaumont Foundation; Orchestra Jazz-Sinfonica São Paulo-Brazil; Antasten Festival Heilbronn; Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon; Istituto Svizzero, Roma; Cesem, Lisbon; ASAFRA Paris; Town of Bielefeld, Grupo de Musica Contemporanea de Lisboa, INA-GRM, Paris, AlmaViva Ensemble, MegaTon Belgrade.

Prizes

“Venezia Opera Prima” - Venice (Teatro La Fenice) 1981
“European Year of Music 1985” (Festival d’Automne Paris, WDR Cologne, Venice Biennale)
“Franco Evangelisti 1986”- Rome
“Junge Komponisten Forum 1989” – Cologne
Trofeu Caymmi - Brazil 2004 (the cd “Brizzi do Brazil” as best recording of the year)
A. Hepburn Foundation - USA (selection of a Brizzi’s song for the UNICEF compilation “All childrens in school”)
Les Souffleur – Paris 2005 (the opera-musical “Mambo Mistico” as “best music for theatre 2004-05”)
Prix Beaumarchais/SACD, Paris 2013 (for the opera project “Cilégie”)
Wilde Lieder (Birmingham Contemporary Music Group) 2018.

Renzo Cresti

L'operare, che molto ha a che fare con quello dell'antropologo, di Brizzi acquista un valore utopico, nel senso etimologico, occupa non un luogo determinato ma è sempre altrove, in un nomadismo che attraversa varie culture; la sua Opera non assume un punto focale unitario, ha piuttosto un carattere di passaggio. Brizzi lavora su una costellazione di riferimenti che hanno, come punto privilegiato, non tanto la struttura musicale, ma la musicalità, termine bistrattato dagli accademici, ma che, nel rispetto dell'ascolto e della comunicazione, diventa centrale, (fermo restando che dovrebbe risultare essenziale anche per le composizioni più astratte). Il lavoro di Brizzi, nella sua sovrapposizione di segni espressivi, diventa quindi non solo un eccellente esempio di superamento delle forme e degli stili definiti, ma si fa pure confronto etico fra culture, antropologia musicale, dove l'uomo abita lo spazio dell'opera, calibrato su una progettualità aperta che ha come fine quello di amplificare il senso dei materiali di partenza (senso ludico, intellettuale e culturale assieme).

Full article

Complete interview

Augusto de campos

Bem-vindo, Aldo Brizzi, que "a brisa do Brasil" deslumbra, mas não dobra.
Sua música … há de ser muito útil para abrir os nossos ouvidos a novas e necessárias descobertas desabridas.
….
Welcome, Aldo Brizzi, that the "Brazil's breeze" fascinates, but does not curve. His music must be very propitious to open our ears to new and necessary rude discoveries.

“A prodigious feast then, … This is a hugely ambitious project that belongs to that noble Brazilian mission of erasing the barriers between classical and popular music.”
Clive Davis - The Times (after the London concert of the Núcleo de Opera, Brizzi and Gilberto Gil)

Jelin di Aldo Brizzi:
... ci sono pagine squisite, come non si compongono più da quasi un secolo, ma non per questo scontate. C’è il gusto francese dei “les six” nel citare il jazz, le marce circensi e la musica popolare, c’è la composizione aperta capace di tornire ogni frase. Si rimane colpiti dalla tavolozza dell’orchestrazione che mette insieme impasti complessi e sfrutta ogni registro.
Alberto Angelino - Il Monferrato

Une création originale sans aucun référentiel.
(about Amor Azul première in Paris)
Gautier Higelin - Toute la Culture

Work in progress

NÃO POESIA - Cycle of pieces based on poems by Augusto de Campos

I-JUCA PIRAMA - opera in two acts, libretto by Paulo Coelho, music Aldo Brizzi and Gilberto Gil

MAIN UPCOMING EVENTS

AMOR AZUL
Paris - 2, 3, 4 Dec 2022 - Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, cond. Aldo Brizzi / São Paulo August 2024 / Salvador November 2024
JELIN
Valenza, Tortona and Casale Monferrato Dec 22 and at France TV5 Monde 24,26,29 Dec 22
ÓPERA DOS TERREIROS
Belém, Brasil, Jan 2022; Salvador, Oct. 2023, Maceió, Aracajú, Salvador March 2025
ORATÓRIO DE SANTO ANTÔNIO - Itaparica and Salvador 11, 12, 13 Jun 22

Complete catalogue

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Je connais Aldo Brizzi depuis quelques années et je suis frappé par son intelligence musicale et son metier de compositeur et chef d'orchestre. J'ai l'intendu et suis convencu que son avenir sera des plus brillants.
Giacinto Scelsi 1986

Conductor website

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