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Romualdo Marenco (March 1, 1841 – October 9, 1907) was an Italian composer primarily noted for ballet music. Marenco started his musical career as a violinist in the Doria Theater in
Romualdo Marenco (March 1, 1841 – October 9, 1907) was an Italian composer primarily noted for ballet music. Marenco started his musical career as a violinist in the Doria Theater in Genoa
Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the List of cities in Italy, sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian ce ...
. His first composition was the ballet ''Garibaldi's Landing in Marsala''. He was appointed the orchestral conductor for La Scala
La Scala (, , ; abbreviation in Italian of the official name ) is a famous opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the ' (New Royal-Ducal Theatre alla Scala). The premiere performan ...
in Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
and also directed the ballet company there for seven years. His best-known ballets were written in collaboration with choreographer Luigi Manzotti
Luigi Manzotti (2 February 1835 – 15 March 1905) was an Italian mime dancer and choreographer.''Oxford Dictionary of Dance'' (2004) Oxford University Press
Born in Milan, Manzotti created his first ballet in 1858 and his subsequent productions ...
during that period.Bussi 2001.
Marenco is best remembered for the ballet ''Excelsior'', composed in 1881. ''Excelsior'' is a tribute to the scientific and industrial progress of the 19th century, from the electric light to the telegraph, steam engine, Fréjus Rail Tunnel, and Suez Canal. As such it foreshadows the Futurism
Futurism ( it, Futurismo, link=no) was an artistic and social movement that originated in Italy, and to a lesser extent in other countries, in the early 20th century. It emphasized dynamism, speed, technology, youth, violence, and objects such ...
movement. In the first nine months, it was staged 100 times in Italy and abroad. It is still performed and was recently (2002) staged in Milan.
Works
(1870).Opera
* ''Lorenzino de' Medici'' (Libretto by G. Perosio, Lodi 1874) * ''I Moncalda'' (Libretto by Fulgi, Milan 1880) * ''Federico Struensée'' (Novi Ligure 1908)Operetta
* ''Le Diable au corps'' (Libr. E. Blum and P. Toché, Paris 1884) * ''Strategia d'amore'' (Libr. C. A. Blengi, Milan 1896)Ballet
* ''Garibaldi's Landing in Marsala'' (choreog. Pretesi, Milan 1868) * ''Amore e Arte'' (Milan, La Scala 1869) * ''Bianca di Nevers'' (Milan, La Scala 1872) * ''The Seven Deadly Sins'' (Milan, La Scala 1873) * ''Tempatation'' (retitled: ''Ermanzia'', Milan, La Scala 1874) * ''Sieba'' (Turin, 1878) * ''Delial'' ( Milan, La Scala 1880) * ''Excelsior'' (Milan, La Scala 1881) * ''Dai Natha'' (Milan, La Scala 1882) * ''L'astro di Afgan'' (Milan, La Scala 1883) * ''Amor'' (Milan, La Scala 1886) * ''Hannibal'' (Milan, Teatro Dal Verme 1888) * ''Teadora'' (Milan, La Scala 1889) * ''Day-Sin'' (Milan, La Scala 1891) * ''Sport'' (Milan, La Scala 1897) * ''Eureka'' (Milan, La Scala 1901) * ''Bacco and Gambrinus'' (Milan, La Scala 1904) * ''Light'' (Milan, La Scala 1905)Other works
* Two symphonies * Inaugural March for the Turin Exposition * ''Bella Elvezia'', polka for pianoforte * ''Hymn to Ticino'' (Lugano 1899)References
Notes Sources * Bussi, Francesco (2001). "Marenco, Romualdo" in Sadie 2001. * Sadie, Stanley, editor; John Tyrell; executive editor (2001). ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language ''Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and theo ...
'', 2nd edition. London: Macmillan. (hardcover). (eBook).
External links
* Italian ballet composers Italian opera composers Male opera composers 1841 births 1907 deaths Italian male classical composers Italian classical composers 19th-century Italian musicians 19th-century Italian male musicians {{Italy-composer-stub