1979
Born in Roma on 24th April
1991
He starts to study piano under the guidance of Lidia Giuseppone.
1997
Starts to study at S. Cecilia Academy of Music in Roma.
In the Academy he studies Composition under the guidance of Giovanni Piazza.
Studies Piano and Score Reading with Gino Nappo, Acoustics, Psycho-Acoustics and Electronic Music with Giorgio Nottoli, Musical Informatics and Programming with Stefano Petrarca, Violin with Camillo Grasso, Cello with Maurizio Gambini and Ethnomusicologist with Sandro Biagiola.
2000
MUSICAL WORKS
Commission for the Music Festival of Sermoneta:
Les Fantômes du future luxe nocturne (The Phantoms of the Nocturnal Future Luxury) for double-bass and piano. (Premičre: Sermoneta – July 2000 // Other considerable performances: O. Respighi Academy of Music, Latina – May 2001).
Trio for violin, cello and piano.
2001
MUSICAL WORKS
Ulisse for mezzo-soprano and orchestra on a poem by Umberto Saba.
Noia (Boredom) for mezzo-soprano and ensemble on a poem by Giuseppe Ungaretti.
Quartetto Nucleo-deferente (Nucleus-Deferent String Quartet)
Itinerari (Itineraries) for piano solo (Premičre: Sala Baldini, Roma – May 2001 // Other considerable performances: Nyitott Műhely Music Hall, Budapest – June 2006 ).
2002
MUSICAL WORKS
Premičre of Trio for violin, cello and piano (S. Cecilia Academy of Music Concert Hall, Roma – 24th April 2002).
13 Variazioni in assenza di tema (13 Variations in absence of theme) for string orchestra.
Piano Sonata a Guillaume Apollinaire (1st version).
Park Güell, Homage to Gaudě for orchestra, based on the techniques of the Catalan artist.
THEORETICAL WORKS
Analysis of the Piano Sonata op. 64 "White Mass" by Scriabin.
2003
ACTIVITIES
Works as musical assistant to the direction of the Tv director Enrico Castiglione, during the concerts of the Euro Mediterraneo Festival conducted by Lorin Maazel with the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra of Parma.
MUSICAL WORKS
In February starts to write the Libretto of Géza (named later La Morte del Mago – The Magician’s Death), Opera based on the life and the artistic activity of the Hungarian writer Géza Csáth.
From September starts to write the score.
On December breaks off the writing for elaborating the Opera as a trilogy.
The last version becomes:
THE DOUBLE BORDER OF CSÁTH
Opera Trilogy based on the life and the artistic activity of the Hungarian writer Géza Csáth.
The Trilogy consists of the following operas:
11 Accuse per Olga (11 Accusations for Olga)
(First Opera of the Trilogy)
Opera in 2 acts
for: soloists, chorus and orchestra
Opium - Sinestesia onirica per un epilogo –
(Oneiric synesthesia for an epilogue)
(Second Opera of the Trilogy)
Multimedia Opera in 9 parts
for: soloists, ballet, ensemble, electronic files and video-projections
La Morte del Mago (The Magician’s Death)
(Third Opera of the Trilogy)
Opera in 7 parts
for: a soloist, his double, two top model-actresses, a mime, secondary singers, mute actors, dancers, invisible chorus and large orchestra.
He works at the librettos and music of the Trilogy from 2003 to 2006.
______
L’Éternitč for mezzo-soprano and orchestra on a French text by Arthur Rimbaud.
5 Frammenti da "La volontŕ di Potenza" (5 Fragments from "The Will to Power") for soli, five choruses and large orchestra, on aphorisms by Friederich Nietzsche.
Sonata for violin and piano "Chagall".
Laudamus for mezzo-soprano and piano.
2004
ACTIVITIES
Takes part to the 42. Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik in Darmstadt, where he attends the perfecting course in composition under the guidance of Brian Ferneyhough and Toshio Hosokawa.
Receives the commission for an original piece from Mehrklangorchester Berlin.
Writes for this circumstance joujoux séduisants (2004/2005), part of Opium, second opera of the trilogy
Il Doppio Confine di Csáth (The Double Border of Csáth) .
He graduates in Composition (first level degree) in October with full marks and laude.
The degree’s thesis is Géza, Opera based on the life and the artistic activity of the Hungarian writer Géza Csáth [first version of the opera La Morte del Mago – (The Magician’s Death)].
Invited by the Hungarian composer Zoltán Jeney, Director of the
Department of Composition and Leader of the PhD/DLA Courses at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, Elia is nominated Guest Composer and Researcher.
Perfecting Course in Piano (Postgraduate Course)
Perfecting Course in Composition (Postgraduate Course)
Perfecting Course in Musical Analysis (Postgraduate Course) - Perfecting Course in Ethnomusicology [research field: works of the modern and contemporary Hungarian composers from Bartók to Ligeti (Postgraduate Course)].
He gets a Three-year Scholarship, awarded by the Hungarian Ministry of Culture.
MUSICAL WORKS
He works out the Opera La Morte del Mago (The Magician’s Death) [cf. Trilogy].
Starts to write the Opera 11 Accuse per Olga (11 Accusations for Olga) [cf. Trilogy].
...illuminavano appena (...illuminated scarcely) for ensemble
Sonata for piano "a Guillaume Apollinaire" (2nd version).
Reminiscences, electronic piece.
THEORETICAL WORKS
Semiografia della musica contemporanea – Ragioni di un’esigenza espressiva (Semiography of the contemporary music – Reasons for an expressive need)
The book is about the reasons that led the composers to introduce new symbols in their scores. It is divided in specific zones according to the musical languages.
Sylvano Bussotti e il Teatro della Crudeltŕ di Artaud (Sylvano Bussotti and the Artaud’s Theatre of the Cruelty).
2005
ACTIVITIES
He gets a scholarship awarded by the Hungarian Ministry of Culture for attending the Perfecting Course in Composition at the Ferenc Liszt Academy in Budapest under the guidance of the composer
Zoltán Jeney.
Perfecting Course in Composition (Postgraduate Course) at the Chigiana Academy of Music in Siena where he gets the Merit Diploma and the Chigiana Academy of Music Scholarship.
Award for the piece Luminiscences.
MUSICAL WORKS
Premičre of joujoux séduisants, (Commissioned by Mehrklangorchester Berlin for the Italianitŕ Festival [Italianitŕ International Festival for Contemporary Music - Mauritius Studio Auditorium, Saarbrücken (Germany) – 16 April 2005. Mehrklangorchester Berlin. Conductor: Tammin Lee. Broadcasted by the Radio State of Saar].
Starts to write the Opera Opium (cf. Trilogy).
Luminiscences for ensemble [Premičre: Palazzo Chigi Saracini (Chigi Saracini Palace) - Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Chigiana Academy of Music), Siena – 6th August 2005. Chigiana Academy of Music Ensemble. Conductor: Mauro Bonifacio // Other important performances: Nyitott Műhely Auditorium, Budapest (Hungary) – 14th June 2006. Con Spirito Zeneművészeti Egyesület (Con Spirito Ensemble) / Nádor terem (Nádor Hall), Budapest (Hungary) – 17th December 2006. Con Spirito Zeneművészeti Egyesület (Con Spirito Ensemble)]
Premičre of Laudamus for mezzo-soprano and piano (Cesano City Auditorium – 20th March 2005.
Mezzo-soprano: Ilaria Piccin. Piano: Alessio Elia)
Eszti la rossa (Eszti the red hair), opera scene for soprano, bass and orchestra.
Storie di solitudine. Il Bosco (Tales of the Solitude, The wood) [shortfilm], original title A magány történetei. Az Erdő – (rövidfilm) – from a Géza Csáth’s tale.
Direction and Storyboard by Elia.
Viewable on "Visual Works" – click here -
2006
ACTIVITIES
Kecskemét (Hungary). Kodály Zoltán Institute (branch of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest).
Perfecting Courses in Musicology and Ethnomusicology about the vocal and instrumental repertoire of the
modern and contemporary Hungarian composers (Bartók, Kodály, Farkas, Kadosa, Durkó, Jeney, Orban, Eötvös, Kurtág, Ligeti).
Scholarship awarded by the Hungarian Ministry of Culture.
In October he graduates in Composition (Master Degree), with full marks, laude, Honour and Merit Mention.
Conference by the Prof. Károly Ákos Windhager at the ELTE University – Department of Theory of Art, in Budapest on the Elia’s Opera Trilogy La Morte del Mago (The Magician’s Death).
MUSICAL WORKS
Carries out the Operas Opium and 11 Accuse per Olga
(11 Accusations for Olga), finishing the Opera Trilogy Il Doppio Confine di Csáth (The Double Border of Csáth), which becomes a kind of study on the borderline syndrome.
Premičre of the Prelude of the Opera 11 Accuse per Olga
(11 Accusations for Olga) [S. Cecilia Academy of Music Concert Hall, Rome – 19th January 2006. S. Cecilia Academy of Music Orchestra. Conductor: Chia – Hong Drapal Liao].
Premičre of the Opera La Morte del Mago (The Magician’s Death) – chamber version – [Nyitott Műhely Auditorium, Budapest (Hungary) – 14th June 2006. Con Spirito Zeneművészeti Egyesület (Con Spirito Ensemble).].
Premičre of the art shortfilm Storie di solitudine. Il Bosco (Tales of the Solitude. The wood). [Nyitott Műhely Auditorium, Budapest (Hungary) – 17th June 2006].
Viewable on "Visual Works" - click here -
Premičre of Reminiscences, electronic piece [Nyitott Műhely Auditorium, Budapest (Hungary) – 17 June].
Premičre of Sonata per violino e pianorte "Chagall" (Sonata for violin and piano "Chagall". [Nyitott Műhely Auditorium, Budapest (Hungary) – 17 June. Violin: Katalin Bartha; Piano: Alessio Elia].
________
First Monographic Concert dedicated to the compositions of Alessio Elia
Concert - Interview organized by Art’s Harmony, Hungarian Society of Music about Elia’s works (First Monographic Concert).
Interviewer: Prof. Károly Ákos Windhager, Professor of Art Theory at the ELTE University in Budapest (Nyitott Műhely Auditorium, Budapest. 16th December 2006, afternoon)
During the First Monographic Concert:
Premičre of Concerto per Pianoforte, suoni elettronici ed immagini (Concert for Piano, electronic sounds and images).
Piano: Alessio Elia.
Premičre of Budapest 1956 – 2006, for Clarinet and piano (Commissioned for the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Clarinet: Péter Székely. Piano: Alessio Elia).
________
Second Monographic Concert dedicated to the composition of Alessio Elia
Concert - Interview organized by “Con Spirito”, Hungarian Society of Music about Elia’s works (Second Monographic Concert).
Interviewer: Magda Györi, President of “Con Spirito” Zeneművészeti Egyesület. [Rátkai Klub Hall, Budapest. 16th December 2006, evening. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Rátkai Klub Hall].
During the Second Monographic Concert:
Premičre of Certezze di un Caro Ignoto (Certainties of a Dear Unknown), for piano solo (Piano: Alessio Elia).
________
On 23rd July 2006 Magyar Katolikus Radio (Hungarian Catholic Radio) broadcasts Luminiscences.
2007
ACTIVITIES
Guest Composer and Researcher at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest.
Fellowship awarded by the Hungarian Ministry of Culture.
Graduates at the S. Cecilia National Academy of Music in Rome.
MUSICAL WORKS
Incertezze visibili della Memoria (Visible Uncertainties of the Memory) for piano and chamber orchestra, on the technique of the strings scordatura.
Perdendo il Mare (Loosing the Sea), artistic short film.
Director: Alessio Elia
Apparizioni della Perdita del Mare (Apparitions of the Sea Lost) artistic short film.
Graphic elaboration: Alessio Elia
L’ultima Notte di Csáth (Csáth’s Last Night), artistic short film.
Graphic elaboration: Alessio Elia
Viewable on "Visual Works" - click here -
La séduction for ensemble (Premičre: Auditorium Parco della Musica – Sala Petrassi, Rome – 23rd November 2007. Freon Ensemble. Conductor: Stefano Cardi).
Viewable on "youtube" - click here -
2008
ACTIVITIES
He is invited as Honorary Member of the Jury in the International Composition Competition T.I.M – Trofeo Internazionale Musica.
He is invited for an interview on his opera La Morte del Mago (The Magician’s Death) by Magyar Televízió (M1), Hungarian State Television.
Viewable on the official youtube channel of the opera - click here -
He is enrolled in the Musical PhD Course at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
Topic of the Research: The Hamburgisches Konzert by György Ligeti.
Starts the collaboration as musical critic and journalist with Livecity, one of the most important cultural review in Italy.
MUSICAL WORKS
Illusions for soprano and soprano saxophone, on no text.
Commissioned by Duo Saxopran (Copenhagen).
Preludio al Disinganno d’Abele (Prelude to the Disenchantment of Abel), for orchestra.
L’Altrove for solo piano.
THEORETICAL WORKS
L’altro volto della scuola di Darmstadt : Messiaen, Ligeti (The other face of the Darmstadt School: Messiaen, Ligeti).
The book is about those aspects that are very far from the serialism, integral serialism and structuralism, features usually connected to the Darmstadt School and offers another point of view of the very famous Ferienkurse. The choice of Messiaen and Ligeti, as prominent figures, comes from the necessity to focalize on those languages that can explain better the proposed subject.
2009
ACTIVITIES
Researcher at the Debrecen University of Music (Hungary).
Researcher and Guest Composer at the Norges Musikkhřgskole in Oslo.
Topic of the Reseach: Aural Sonology Project for Ligeti's music. Aural perception, spectra, heterogeneous temperaments, harmonics.
Annual Fellowship of The Research Council of Norway (Yggdrasil Programme for Doctoral Researchers).
He starts to write a Reportage from Norway, a collection of articles about the Norwegian musical life, published on Livecity.it (Spazio Classica).
The Italian writer Claudio Morandini interviews Elia.
MUSICAL WORKS
Concerto per Tuba, per solo tuba and piano. Commissioned by the Hungarian Brass Society.
Sonata for Horn and Piano no. 1, for horn and piano.
L’ora azzurra (The azure hour), for flute, clarinet and basset horn.
Commissioned by Trio Böhm (Rome).
Oblio della Volontŕ (Oblivion of the Will), for solo piano.
Tre Studi per pianoforte:
a) La memoria dimenticata (The forgotten memory)
b) Incertezze (Uncertainties)
c) Inner Outside
Out of Aut, for three cellos con scordatura.
2010
ACTIVITIES
Lecturer in Composition at the Norges Musikkhřgskole (Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo. Department of Composition.
Teaches about Ligeti’s music to the students of the Composition Course.
Researcher at the University of Debrecen (Hungary).
Erasmus Scholarship for Researchers.
Topic of the research: The Hamburgisches Konzert (Horn Concerto) by György Ligeti.
Professor of Composition at the International Summer Campus of Music Ambient’Azioni Musicali in Morino (L’Aquila – Italy)
Guest Composer and Researcher at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest.
Fellowship of the Hungarian Ministry of Culture.
MUSICAL WORKS
L’ultimo Canto di Saffo (from a poem by Giacomo Leopardi with the same title), for piano [Premičre: Lindemansalen, Norges Musikkhřgskole (Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo (Norway) – 25th May.
Fourth Monographic Concert dedicated to the compositions of Alessio Elia. Promoter: Norges Musikkhřgskole (Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo. Piano: Alessio Elia]
Outrage, etude for piano. Commissioned by Massimiliano Scatena and dedicated to him.
______
Third Monographic Concert dedicated to the compositions of Alessio Elia
("From Silence to the Invisible Sound")
Place: Levinsalen, Norges Musikkhřgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo (Norway).
Date: 24th February
Promoter: Norges Musikkhřgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo.
Inside the concert:
Premičre of L’ora azzurra (The azure hour) for flute, clarinet and basset horn.
[Commissioned by Trio Böhm for the commemoration of the
5th anniversary of the foundation.
Trio Böhm (Flute: Michela Berti. Clarinet: Claudio Cavallaro.
Bassett-horn: Daniele Veroli).
Conductor: Alessio Elia]
Premičre of Oblio della Volontŕ (Oblivion of the Will) for solo piano. (Piano: Alessio Elia).
Premičre of Tre Studi per pianoforte, for solo piano:
I) La memoria dimenticata (The forgotten memory)
II) Incertezze (Uncertainties)
III) Inner Outside
(Piano: Alessio Elia).
Premičre of Sonata per Corno e Pianoforte n° 1
(Horn: Debora Maffeis. Piano: Olivera Marinkovic)
Premičre of L’Altrove (Elsewhere) for solo piano
(Piano: Alessio Elia)
______
An Unexpected Indifference, for mixed chorus [commissioned by Norges Musikkhřgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music). Premičre: Levinsalen, Norges Musikkhřgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo – 21th May. Chorus of Norges Musikkhřgskole (Accademia Norvegese di Musica). Conductor: Alessio Elia].
______
Fourth Monographic Concert dedicated to the compositions of Alessio Elia
(A Seductive Forgetfulness)
Place: Lindemansalen, Norges Musikkhřgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo (Norway).
Date: 25th May 2010
Promoter: Norges Musikkhřgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo.
Inside the concert:
Premičre of L’ultimo Canto di Saffo (from a poem by Giacomo Leopardi with the same title), for piano.
[Lindemansalen, Norges Musikkhřgskole (Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo (Norway) – 25th May 2010.
Fourth Monographic Concert dedicated to the compositions of Alessio Elia. Promoter: Norges
Musikkhřgskole (Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo. Piano: Alessio Elia]
______
Introduction to the virtuosity of Liszt; Postlude to the virtuosity of Liszt.
Re-writing from Liszt: Morceau de Salon; Transcendental Etude no. 2; Mazeppa; Wilde Jagd; Chasse-Neige.
[Premičre of all the works: Stage of the Operaház (Opera House),
Budapest – 5th September. Piano: Alessio Elia. Zenés korzó az
Andrássy úton (Musical Promenade in Andrássy út).
Promoter: HungaroFest, Klassz – Musical Department of the State
Society for Cultural Events, Hungarian Ministry of Education and
Culture]
2011
ACTIVITIES
Professor of Composition at the International Summer Campus of Music Ambient’Azioni Musicali in Morino (L’Aquila – Italy)
MUSICAL WORKS
Perfezione Sintetica dell’ Incanto – Concerto for Corno solista ed ensemble. (Synthetic Perfection of the Enchantment – Concerto for Horn and ensemble). Commissioned by Debora Maffeis (Aalborg Symphonic Orchestra (Denmark) and dedicated to her.
Premičre of Outrage, etude for piano – dedicated to Massimiliano Scatena. (Palácio Foz, Lisboa – 30th June 2011. Piano: Massimiliano Scatena).
The Temptress (After a Jack Vettriano’s painting), etude for piano.
(updated on 23rd April 2011)