La musica dei Greci, la Grecia in musica: Pizzetti e il mondo classico

Greek and Latin literatures feature prominently as sources of inspiration in Ildebrando Pizzetti’s output. His most famous music drama Fedra, whose libretto was adapted by Gabriele d’Annunzio after his own version of Euripides’ tragedy, was performed for the first time in 1915 at La Scala in Milan. Besides Fedra, Pizzetti’s catalogue includes two other music dramas taken from Greek tragedies (Ifigenias and Clitennestra), and many compositions (ouvertures, symphonic poems, ballets, songs, cantatas) that witness the composer’s deep love for classical subjects. This article reviews all these works, including the early, unfinished sketches, composed in collaboration with his friend Annibale Beggi.