Michael Stimpson – new work based on the poems of Pascoli

One of Britain's fastest rising composers, Michael Stimpson has been a resident in Barga Vecchia for some time now.
The influence of Barga and this area on his work will be put in front of the public for the first time during May with four performances of his latest compostion "Dall'Alba al Tramonto based on the poems of Giovanni Pascoli.

Respected Italian tenor and piano duo Alessandro Maffucci and Roberto Russo are to tour Michael's latest work.

The duo will give the UK premiere performance at St. James' Piccadilly in London followed by performances in Reading, Salisbury and another London performance at the Italian Cultural Institute

Michael has composed for some of the UK's most distinguished artists in the classical music industry, including the English Chamber Orchestra, Tallis Chamber Choir, David Campbell, Allegri String Quartet, Paul Agnew, Sioned Williams, John Anderson, Dussek Piano Trio, London Festival Orchestra and the English Concert Singers. The capital's foremost venues have hosted performances of his work; the Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall, Purcell Room and St. John's Smith Square and international recognition has prompted performances in the USA, Iran and Italy.

Performance dates 2007:

Monday 30th April, 1.10pm at St. James' Piccadilly London
Tuesday 1st May, Palmer Building, Reading University, Seminars, concerts and lectures
Thursday 3rd May, 7.00pm at the Italian Institute, Belgrave Square, London
Saturday 5th May, 7.30 at the Methodist Church, St. Edmund's Church St., Salisbury

GIOVANNI PASCOLI – 1855-1912, Italian poet. Pascoli's childhood was marked by a series of tragedies: the deaths of his parents and of five of his brothers and sisters. A radical in his student days at the Univ. of Bologna, he was subdued by imprisonment (1879) for his political activities. After completing his studies he taught classics, succeeding Giosuè Carducci as professor of literature at Bologna in 1905. His tender poetry, written in pastoral style, won him international fame; many verses were inspired by memories of his family. Also seeing his mission as the chronicling of Italy's glory, he wrote of historical and patriotic subjects, earning D'Annunzio's epithet "the last son of Vergil." His works include Carmina (in Latin, 1914); the more mystical Myricae (1891-1903); and the patriotic Odi e inni (1906). Pascoli remains one of Italy's best-loved poets. He was also an essayist of distinction – more on Pascoli here

Movements from the work:
1. Alba Festiva
2. Speranze e Memorie
3. Scalpitio
4. Il Morticino
5. Patria
6. La Cucitrice
7. Alba Festival

This work was made possible with the help of sponsorship from Huggins and Lewis Foskett Solicitors and Arts and Business. More information and streaming MP3's of some of Michael's compositions can be found on his site