STUDIES
Trained internationally he studied composition in Italy, Hungary and Germany, graduating at the S. Cecilia Academy of Music in Rome under the guidance of Giovanni Piazza. He completed postgraduate courses in Italy at the National Academy of Music S. Cecilia in Rome and at the Chigiana Academy of Music in Siena, and abroad at the Internationales Musikinstitut Darmstadt with Brian Ferneyhough, Toshio Hosokawa, and Georg Friedrich Haas, as well as at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest with Zoltán Jeney.
Consultations with Norwegian composer Lasse Thoresen also had a significant role in the process of his professional development.
He obtained the post-master’s degree in Composition at the Hochschule für Musik Mannheim, studying with Sidney Corbett, a former student of György Ligeti.
Elia earned his PhD cum laude at the University of Rome Tor Vergata with a dissertation about the Hamburgisches Konzert by
Ligeti (first comprehensive monograph on this topic).
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.
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. (Première: Sermoneta Festival – July 2000)
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 (Première: Sala Baldini, Roma – May 2001)
2002
MUSICAL WORKS
Première 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 Gaudì 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 till 2006.
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L’Éternitè for mezzo-soprano and orchestra on a French text by Arthur Rimbaud.
5 Frammenti da "La volontà 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, Toshio Hosokawa and Georg Friedrich Haas.
Commission from Mehrklangorchester Berlin for the German Festival "Italianità".
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 - Bachelor) 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)].
Since October starts researches at the Liszt Academy of Music.
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 Scholarship for three years, 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. The work is divided in specific sections according to the musical languages.
Sylvano Bussotti e il Teatro della Crudeltà 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.
Merit Award for the piece Luminescences.
MUSICAL WORKS
Première of joujoux séduisants, commissioned by Mehrklangorchester Berlin for the Festival Italianità [Première: 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).
Luminescences for ensemble [Première: Palazzo Chigi Saracini (Chigi Saracini Palace) - Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Chigiana Academy of Music), Siena – 6th August 2005. Chigiana Academy of Music Ens emble. Conductor: Mauro Bonifacio] - video
Première 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 the composer.
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) at the S. Cecilia Conservatory of Music in Rome, 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), completing the opera trilogy
Il Doppio Confine di Csáth (The Double Border of Csáth), which becomes a kind of study on the borderline syndrome.
Première 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]
Première of the Opera La Morte del Mago (The Magician’s Death) – chamber version – [Nyitott Műhely,
Budapest (Hungary) – 14th June 2006. Con Spirito Zeneművészeti Egyesület (Con Spirito Ensemble).].
Première of the art shortfilm Storie di solitudine. Il Bosco (Tales of the Solitude. The wood). [Nyitott Műhely, Budapest (Hungary) – 17th June 2006].
Première of Reminiscences, electronic piece [Nyitott Műhely, Budapest (Hungary) – 17 June].
Première of Sonata per violino e pianorte "Chagall" (Sonata for violin and piano "Chagall". [Nyitott Műhely, Budapest (Hungary) – 17 June. Violin: Katalin Bartha; Piano: Alessio Elia].
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First Portrait Concert dedicated to the compositions of Alessio Elia.
Concert - Interview organized by Art’s Harmony, Hungarian Society of Music about Elia’s works (First portrait Concert).
Interviewer: Prof. Károly Ákos Windhager, Professor of Art Theory at the ELTE University in Budapest (Nyitott Műhely, Budapest. 16th December 2006, afternoon)
Within the First Portrait Concert:
Première of Concerto per Pianoforte, suoni elettronici ed immagini (Concert for Piano, electronic sounds and images).
Piano: Alessio Elia.
Première 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).
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Second Portrait Concert dedicated to the composition of Alessio Elia.
Concert - Interview organized by "Con Spirito" Association of Music about Elia’s works (Second Portrait 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].
Within the Second Portrait Concert:
Première of Certezze di un Caro Ignoto (Certainties of a Dear Unknown), for piano solo (Piano: Alessio Elia).
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On 23rd July 2006 Magyar Katolikus Radio (Hungarian Catholic Radio) broadcasts Luminescences.
2007
ACTIVITIES
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
La Séduction for ensemble (Première: Auditorium Parco della Musica – Sala Petrassi, Rome –
23rd November 2007. Freon Ensemble. Conductor: Stefano Cardi).
Viewable on youtube
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 about his opera La Morte del Mago (The Magician’s Death) by Magyar
Televízió (M1), Hungarian State Television.
Viewable on the youtube channel of the opera
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.
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 - video
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). Erasmus Scholarship for Doctoral Researchers.
The State Library of Eger (Hungary) publishes an overview of his opera La morte del Mago
(The Magician’s Death).
Researcher and Composer at the Norges Musikkhøgskole 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).
The Italian writer Claudio Morandini interviews Elia.
1st Part
1st Part "a"
2nd Part
3rd Part
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 Volontà (Oblivion of the Will), for solo piano.
Tre Studi per pianoforte :
a) La memoria dimenticata (The forgotten memory)
b) Incertezze (Uncertainties)
c) Inner Outside (Outrage) première
Out of Aut, for three cellos con scordatura.
Première of Outrage (Inner Outside), etude for piano.
Alessio Elia, piano.
2010
ACTIVITIES
Lecturer in Composition at the Norges Musikkhøgskole (Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo. Department of Composition.
Researcher at the University of Debrecen (Hungary). Erasmus Scholarship for Researchers.
Topic of the research: The Hamburgisches Konzert (Horn Concerto) by György Ligeti.
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 [Première: Lindemansalen, Norges Musikkhøgskole (Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo (Norway) – 25th May.
Outrage, etude for piano
Video of Elia's performance
Third Portrait Concert dedicated to the compositions of Alessio Elia.
("From Silence to the Invisible Sound")
Place: Levinsalen, Norges Musikkhøgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo (Norway).
Date: 24th February
Promoter: Norges Musikkhøgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo.
Within the concert:
Première 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]
Première of Oblio della Volontà (Oblivion of the Will) for solo piano. (Piano: Alessio Elia).
Première of Tre Studi per pianoforte, for solo piano:
I) La memoria dimenticata (The forgotten memory)
II) Incertezze (Uncertainties)
III) Inner Outside
(Piano: Alessio Elia).
Première of Sonata per Corno e Pianoforte n° 1
(Horn: Debora Maffeis. Piano: Olivera Marinkovic)
Première of L’Altrove (Elsewhere) for solo piano
(Piano: Alessio Elia)
Viewable on youtube
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An Unexpected Indifference, for mixed chorus [for the research Concrescence created by the composer Lasse Thoresen at the Norges Musikkhøgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music). Première: Levinsalen, Norges Musikkhøgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo – 21th May. Chorus of Norges Musikkhøgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music). Conductor: Alessio Elia].
Listen to it on youtube
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Fourth Portrait Concert dedicated to the compositions of Alessio Elia
(A Seductive Forgetfulness)
Place: Lindemansalen, Norges Musikkhøgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo (Norway).
Date: 25th May 2010
Promoter: Norges Musikkhøgskole (The Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo.
Within the concert:
Première of L’ultimo Canto di Saffo (after a poem by Giacomo Leopardi with the same title), for piano.
[Lindemansalen, Norges Musikkhøgskole (Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo (Norway) – 25th May 2010.
Fourth Monographic Concert dedicated to the compositions of Alessio Elia. Promoter: Norges Musikkhøgskole (Norwegian Academy of Music), Oslo. Piano: Alessio Elia]
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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.
[Première of all the works: Andrássy út, 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
Researcher at the Sacher Foundation in Basel (Switzerland) - Ligeti Archives.
MUSICAL WORKS
Perfezione Sintetica dell’Incanto – Concerto per 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].
Outrage, etude for piano (Sala dos Espelhos do Palácio Foz, Lisboa – 30th June 2011).
German première of Piano etudes nos. 1 and 2: "Outrage" and "The Temptress" – after a Jack Vettriano’s
painting with the same title).
(16 October - Mannheimer Kunstverein. Piano: Alessio Elia)
Outrage performed in Rome
(17 October – Teatro Valle in Rome).
Fifth Portrait Concert.
Piano recital of Elia’s music at the Piano Festival "Eufonia" (Rome)
(27 November – Piano: Alessio Elia)
Promoter: "Eufonia" Music Association.
2012
ACTIVITIES
Conference about his opera The Magician’s Death (based on the life and artistic activity of the Hungarian writer Géza Csáth).
17 April. Eötvös József University, Baja (Hungary). In the frame of the conference for celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Csáth’s birth. Additionally excerpts of the opera were projected during the three-day Symposium.
Programme
Earns the PhD degree in Story, Science and Techniques of Music with laude at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" with a dissertation about the "Hamburgisches Konzert" by György Ligeti [Title: «The "Hamburgisches Konzert" by György Ligeti. From sketches and drafts to the final (?) version. Musical structures, techniques of composition and their perception as aural phenomena»]
Gives a conference entitled «The roles of microtonality in the "Hamburgisches Konzert" by Ligeti» in the «"Internationales Symposium Ligeti und die Mikrotonalität" (im Rahmen des Hamburg Klangwertage Festivals)»
at the Kampnagel Internationale Kulturfabrik GmbH in Hamburg.
Programme at Kampnagel website
MUSICAL WORKS
German première of Piano etude no. 3 "Incertezze" and "L’Altrove" (for piano).
Forum Neue Musik – Palais Prinz Carl, Heidelberg
(11 January – Piano: Alessio Elia)
"Goog" le Suite - Romances without music (for electronics).
Première: 24 May, Forum Neue Musik – Palais Prinz Carl, Heidelberg
Review
Srilankan Première of "Budapest 1956/2006" – Sonata per la Rivoluzione.
(1 June. Taj Samudra. Colombo – Sri Lanka. Clarinet: Claudio Cavallaro; Piano: Massimo Spada. Official
celebration of the Italian Republic. Organizer: Italian Embassy in Colombo)
Review (Cidim website)
Three pieces of Elia are selected for the Preview of the Project "She Lives – Contemporary music is music", organized by Fabiana Piersanti.
[Selected pieces : "Budapest 1956"; "Outrage"; "Luminescences"].
Takes part to the event also as a pianist performing an improvvisation with the composer and violin player Cristiano Serino.
"Budapest 1956" (a new version of "Budapest 1956/2006" ) is performed at the Festival Clarinet Days in Rome, event organized by the cultural association Eufonia.
[23 December 2012. Eufonia. Rome. Clarinet: Claudio Cavallaro; Piano: Massimo Spada]
2013
ACTIVITIES
The Italian musicologist and researcher Carla Di Lena interviews Elia for Radio Vaticana.
In September Radio Bartók interviews Elia about his orchestral piece "Dimensioni nascoste" (Rejtett dimenziók).
MUSICAL WORKS
Beyond Perturbative States for piano and strings.
Première: 9 August 2013. Festival "Ambient'Azioni Musicali"
Ensemble of the Festival.
Sandro Savagnone, conductor
Rejtett dimenziók for orchestra.
Première: 26 September, Bartók Hall - Művészetek Palotája (Palace of Arts) - Budapest.
Hungarian State Radio Orchestra. Gergely Vajda, conductor.
Final round of the UMZF 2013 Competition (Forum of the New Hungarian Music).
Chief of the jury: Péter Eötvös.
Note: First prize of the orchestral music category at the UMZF 2013 Competition.
Inquantumland for ensemble
Première: 25 September, BMC (Budapest Music Centre) - Budapest.
Ensemble of the Hungarian State Radio Orchestra. Gergely Vajda, conductor.
Final round of the UMZF 2013 Competition (Forum of the New Hungarian Music).
Chief of the jury: Péter Eötvös.
Note: Third prize of the chamber music category at the UMZF 2013 Competition.
Outrage performed at Auditorium del Parco in L'Aquila.
2014
ACTIVITIES
In February he completes with full marks the postgraduate studies in composition at the Hochschule für Musik Mannheim, studying with Sidney Corbett.
Researcher at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest.
Subject: Microtonality, physical and logical models in the music of the Hungarian composers.
Fellowships of the Balassi Intézet for post-doctoral studies and researches.
In the number of July, "Muzsika" publishes a very positive critic by Szabolcs Molnár of Elia's orchestral piece "Trasparenze".
In the number MMXIV/I (March) "Dal Szerző" (the official magazine of the Hungarian Bureau for the Protection
of Authors' Rights) publishes a long interview with Elia, realized by Marcell Németh.
In the concert programme of the Eighth Portrait Concert dedicated to Elia, the Italian critic Guido Barbieri writes
a very positive and original interpretation of the sound and music of Elia.
On 2nd June the Italian newspaper "La Repubblica" realised an interview with Péter Eötvös talking about Elia's music.
On 10 February the German newspaper "Die Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung" publishes the announcement of the second German performance of "Dimensioni nascoste" (Versteckte Dimensionen).
On 13 February the German newspaper "Die Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung" publishes an enthusiastic review of the
second German performance of "Dimensioni nascoste" (Versteckte Dimensionen).
On 13 February the German newspaper "Mannheimer Morgen" publishes an enthusiastic review of the first
German performance of "Dimensioni nascoste" (Versteckte Dimensionen).
On 14 April he is interviewed by Szabolcs Molnár in a programme of the Hungarian "Klub Rádió".
On 28 April appears in "9 Colonne" (the official National Italian Newspaper of the Italian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs) an enthusiastic review of Elia's music.
On 10 May appears in "PlayLiszt" a very positive critic and review by Szabolcs Molnár of the 7th Portrait Concert dedicated to
Alessio Elia's music. The concert was held at Sala Verdi of the Italian Institute of Culture in Budapest within the concert series "Contemporanea", a three-concert festival dedicated to Ivan Fedele, Luciano Berio and
Alessio Elia.
In Novemeber gives a lecture at Cité de la Musique, Paris. Centre de documentation de la musique
contemporaine.
Title of the conference: "Polysystemism: A simultaneous employment of different tuning systems emerging from String Theory, M- Theory and Supersymmetry"
MUSICAL WORKS
Two Movements for Viola and Percussion
Première: 17 January 2014. Kammermusiksaal - Musik Hochschule Mannheim.
Marie Takahashi, Viola
Robert Oetomo, Percussion
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Sixth Portrait concert
Date and place: 5 February. Kammermusiksaal - Musik Hochschule Mannheim.
Promoter: Musik Hochschule Mannheim.
Pieces performed:
Beyond perturbative states (2013)
für Klavier (kontrollierte Obertöne), Violine con scordatura, Bratsche con scordatura,
Violoncello con scordatura, Kontrabass con scordatura.
German Première
Heisenberg Suite (2013)
für Klarinette, Horn, Schlagzeug (2 Spielern), Violine, Violoncello, Klavier.
Outrage – Piano etude no. 1(2011)
für Klavier
The Temptress – Piano etude no. 2 (2012)
für Klavier
Luminescences (2005 – rev. 2013)
für Klarinette, Schlagzeug (2 Spielern), Violine con scordatura, Bratsche con scordatura, Violoncello con
scordatura.
German Première
Movimento primo (2012) [7’20’’]
für Klavier und Kammerorchester
Première
Impronta ensemble
Andreas Luca Beraldo, Conductor
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German Première of Dimensioni nascoste (Versteckte Dimensionen) for orchestra
9 February. Aula der Universität Schloss Mannheim
TonArt Heidelberg Simphonic Orchestra
Knud Jansen, conductor
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Performance of Dimensioni nascoste (Versteckte Dimensionen) for orchestra at the Kongresshaus Stadthalle Heidelberg.
10 February.
TonArt Heidelberg Simphonic Orchestra
Knud Jansen, conductor.
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Performance of Two Movements for Viola and Percussion at the Kammermusiksaal - Musik Hochschule Mannheim
17 January 2014.
Marie Takahashi, Viola
Robert Oetomo, Percussion
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Seventh Portrait Concert dedicated to the music of Alessio Elia
Ritratto d'autore: ALESSIO ELIA
(within the concert series "CONTEMPORANEA" dedicated to Alessio Elia, Ivan Fedele and Luciano Berio)
Sala Verdi - Italian Institute of Culture, Budapest
8 May 2014.
Promoter: Italian Ambassy in Hungary and Italian Institute of Culture in Budapest.
Concert in the presence of Her Excellency Ambassador of Italy in Hungary, Dr. Maria Assunta Accili.
Pieces performed:
Beyond Perturbative States (2013)
for violin, viola, cello, double-bass, piano
The Temptress (2014)
for solo piano
Trio (1999)
for violin, cello and piano
Outrage (2010)
for solo piano
Conifold transitions (2014)
for clarinet, 2 violins, cello and piano
Première
Francesco Mario Possenti, piano
Gábor Varga, clarinet
Krulik Quartet
Lukácsházi István, double-bass
László Tihanyi, conductor
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Première of Trasparenze, for large orchestra.
Commission of Bartók Rádió.
21 May 2014.
Studio no. 6 of the National Hungarian Radio.
Live broadcast.
The National Hungarian Radio Orchestra
László Tihanyi, conductor
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Eighth Portrait Concert dedicated to the music of Alessio Elia
Name of the event: Trasparenze
Within the concert series "SHE LIVES meets Hungary", three portrait concerts dedicated to Péter Eötvös, Zoltán Jeney and Alessio Elia.
Organizers: SHE LIVES, Balassi Intézet and Accademia Filarmonica Romana.
Sala Casella, Accademia Filarmonica Romana (Roma)
2 July 2014
Pieces performed:
György Ligeti (1923-2006)
Sonata for cello solo (1948-53)
Alfredo Mola, cello
Alessio Elia
Luminescences (2005)
for clarinet, violin con scordatura, viola con scordatura, cello con scordatura, percussion
The Temptress – Piano etude no. 2 (2012)
for piano*
László Tihanyi (*1956)
Preludium, Invocation, Postludium op. 54
for violin, viola, cello**
First Italian performance
Alessio Elia
Beyond Perturbative States (2013)
for prepared piano preparato (controlled harmonics), violin con scordatura, viola con scordatura, cello con scordatura, double-bass con scordatura
Outrage – Piano etude no. 1 (2011)
for piano*
Conifold transitions (2014)
for clarinet, two violins con scordatura, cello con scordatura and piano
First Italian performance
Ensemble Shelives
Sandro Savagnone, conductor
* Francesco Mario Possenti, piano
** Francesco Peverini, violin; Diana Bonatesta, viola; Paolo Andriotti, cello
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Merging Spaces (piano etude no.3)
Première: Festival "Piano surrounding 2014". Düsseldorf. 14 September. Jan Gerdes, piano
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Sayings of the seers, violin etude no. 1. Dedicated to Jeanne Lefèvre.
2015
MUSICAL WORKS
Performance of Merging Spaces (piano etude no. 3) at BKA-Theater. Berlin. 20 January 2015. Jan Gerdes, piano.
Credo, for two choruses and string orchestra.
Première: 29 March. Heilig-Geist-Kirche. Mannheim. Within Konzert zur Nacht. Motettenchor Mannheim.
Impronta Ensemble. Alexander Niehues, conductor
Voynich Emblemata, for choir and ensemble.
Text from folio 99v of the Voynich Manuscript, transliterated according to the study of Prof. Stephen Bax.
First employment of the Voynich text.
Invocazione e Responso, duo for flute and clarinet.
Commission of Duo Aphelion.
Première of Sayings of the Seers.
Festival Chor.com. 2 October 2015. Dortmund.
Jeanne Lefèvre, violin.
Disappearing rainbows for large ensemble [2 flutes (2nd also piccolo), oboe, 2 clarinets (2nd also bass-clarinet), horn, bassoon, 3 percussionists, piano, 4 violins, 2 cellos, double-bass]
Première: 7 October 2015. Budapest Music Centre. The National Hungarian Radio Orchestra. Gergely Vajda, conductor
Extended Moment for solo guitar.
Commission of Angelo Colone.
2016
ACTIVITIES
In the number 43 of Musica + it is realised an interview to Alessio Elia realized by Carla Di Lena - click here to
read it.
Conference "Per un Teatro delle ombre" with Stefano Jacoviello, László Tihanyi, Alessio Elia. Santa Maria della Scala - Chigiana Lounge. Siena (9 July).
Lecture-meeting: "The role of the composer today - the music of Kurtág and Tihanyi"
Chigiana Academy of Music. Siena, 9 July.
Seminar: Music as a physical phenomenon.
Accademia Italiana del Flauto. Rome, 17-18 July.
Seminar: Polysystemism (integration of different types of tuning systems) –
based on a lecture at a conference held at La Cité de la Musique, Paris.
Accademia Italiana del Flauto. Rome, 19-20 July.
Laboratory: "Extended techniques in flute, cello and piano".
Accademia Italiana del Flauto. Rome, 22 July.
Composition masterclass at Accademia Italiana del Flauto, Rome.
Professors: Alessio Elia - Sidney Corbett
16-23 July 2016.
Lecture at Pesti Vigado, The Hungarian Academy of Arts. Budapest, 11 October
"Polysystemism and extra dimensions: my approach to composition and to a multidimensional way to shape
sound in relationship with the music of Bartók, Ligeti and quantum physics".
Within the Symposium "Bartók and Járdányi: two compared arts"
His orchestral piece Labyrinthum continui is awarded the "Leibniz's Harmonies Prize" in Hannover, Germany.
MUSICAL WORKS
Voynich Lied - Ai Prigionieri, for soprano, trumpet and piano.
Text from folio 99v of the Voynich Manuscript, transliterated according to the study of Prof. Stephen Bax.
Première: 1 June 2016. Hungarian Radio Studios - Márványterem.
Live broadcasted by Bartók Radio.
Adrienn Miksch, soprano
Tamás Pálfalvi, trumpet
Krisztina Fejes, piano
Octet, for wind octet.
Commissioned by and dedicated to I Solisti della Scala di Milano.
Recorded at Bartók Studio in Milano by I Solisti della Scala, conducted by Andrea Vitello.
Heisenberg Suite, new version, for clarinet, horn, percussion (2 players), string quartet and piano.
Conifold transitions, new version.
Tenth Portrait Concert
The Italian Institute of Culture in Budapest organizes a portrait concert for celebrating the ten years of musical activity of Elia in Hungary.
Within the concert:
Première of Heisenberg Suite (vers. 2016)
Première of the new version of Conifold transitions.
Hungarian Première of Sayings of the Seers (Aaron Berofsky, violin)
Hungarian Première of Merging Spaces (Krisztina Fejes, piano)
2017
ACTIVITIES
It is released by CAFe - Contemporary Arts Festival a Playlist of Alessio's favourite pieces with comments of the composer.
"Listen to the iPod of the award-winning composer!" ("Hallgass bele a díjnyertes zeneszerző iPodjába!").
September 2017.
Click here to read (Hungarian) and listen to it.
Click here to read the English translation.
It is released by NIGHT Italia the article "Alessio Elia - A certain glance" by Elena Abbado.
Article-Interview with Alessio Elia realized by Elena Abbado.
February 2017, Rome.
Click here to read it.
MUSICAL WORKS
Traces from Nowhere, for disklavier and ensemble [disklavier, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, violin con scord. and cello con scord.]
The piece employs the Polysystemism (12-ET, Werckmeister I,II, IV, JI, Pythagorean, Meantone) and it is written for the project "Human machine", elaborated together with the conductor Andreas Luca Beraldo.
The project is sponsored by Yamaha, with the contribution of Pro Helvetia.
Première: 16 February 2017. Festival "Oggimusica". LAC - New Auditorium - Lugano (Switzerland)
Impronta Ensemble
Andreas Luca Beraldo, conductor
Other performances:
19 October 2017
BMC - Budapest Music Center.
CAFe - Contemporary Arts Festival Budapest.
Impronta Ensemble
Andreas Luca Beraldo, conductor
20 October
Yamaha Concert Hall Wien
Impronta Ensemble
Andreas Luca Beraldo, conductor
Studio Recording of Octet.
I Solisti della Scala
Andrea Vitello, conductor
Bartók Studio - Milano
Disappearing rainbows opens "The Day of Listening" (A hallgatás napja), the one-day Festival of Concerto Budapest Orchestra.
Concerto Budapest Orchestra, conducted by Zoltán Rácz.
Click here to visit the festival website.
2018
ACTIVITIES
Octet is published by Universal Music Publishing - Editio Musica Budapest, and released in Cd by Warner Classics, recorded by I Solisti della Scala di Milano conducted by Andrea Vitello.
Interview for RAI Radio 3 (Radio 3 Suite program) about Octet with the composer speaking about his work. Interview lead by Guido Barbieri with the contribution of Fabrizio Meloni, first clarinet of La Scala and Andrea Vitello, conductor of I Solisti della Scala.
MUSICAL WORKS
Italian Première of Merging Spaces - Piano etude no.3
Within the recital "Italians without borders", including the other two piano etudes by Elia (Outrage and The Temptress) and works by Scarlatti, Galuppi and Clementi.
Accademia d'Ungheria in Roma, 23 February 2018.
Krisztina Fejes, piano.
Distimement, for large orchestra. Compulsory piece for the Antal Doráti International Conducting Competition.
Première: 12 November 2018, Vigadó Concert Hall - Budapest.
MÁV Symphony Orchestra.
Conference at the Doctoral School of the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. 19 December 2019.
«Polysystemism: a simultaneous employment of different tuning systems.
Music as thought-form in the light of sound perception and related acoustic phenomena.
The most recent achievements of physics as a source of inspiration for a coherent system
of organization of sonic matter and of the forces that underlie it».
Fading into colors, for orchestra. Written for Andrea Barizza and Filarmonica Bacau Mihail Jora.
Première: 21 March 2019, Bacau Concert Hall.
Mihail Jora Philarmonic Orchestra Bacau
Andrea Barizza, conductor
Ekpyrotic Suicide, for ensemble.
Commission of UMZE Ensemble.
Première: 31 March 2019, BMC - Budapest Music Center.
László Tihanyi, conductor
Implicate Inklings - Clarinet Concerto, for clarinet soloist and large orchestra.
Written for Csaba Klenyán as solo clarinet and Concerto Budapest Orchestra conducted by Zoltán Rácz.
In memoriam of the Italian poet and writer Adriana Feoli Keseru.
Première: 4 May 2019, Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy - Budapest.
Concerto Budapest Orchestra
Csaba Klenyán, clarinet soloist
French Première of Octet.
Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice
Andrea Vitello, conductor
27 October 2019. Opéra Nice Côte d'Azur. Musée national Marc Chagall. Nice
Incantesimi di Merseburg, for 16-part soloist mixed chorus
Commission of Kammerchor Stuttgart
Première: 21 February 2020. Gesellschaft für Neue Musik Mannheim.
Kammerchor Stuttgart. Frieder Bernius, conductor
Sonata for flute and piano
Commission of Szabolcs Szilágyi for the Budapest Flute Academy 2020.
Première: 14 March 2020. BMC - Budapest Music Center, Grand Hall.
Duo for flute and clarinet
Commission of Duo Salvi-Cavallaro
Altered memories, for flute, cello and piano
Commission of Alter Ego ensemble
Nocturnal Awakened, for wind quintet
Commission of Quintetto Anemos
Première: 25 September 2019. Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Parigi.
Conference at the Czech Institute for Microtonal Music / Institut mikrointervalové hudby. 16 October 2020.
Polysystemism: a tool to shape music in connection with acoustical phenomena
Article for Živá hudba - Review for the study of music and dance
The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague
Polysystemism: a tool for shaping music by relation to acoustical phenomena.
Première of Incantesimi di Merseburg, for 16-part soloist mixed chorus. Commission of Kammerchor Stuttgart.
21 February 2020. Gesellschaft für Neue Musik Mannheim.
Kammerchor Stuttgart. Frieder Bernius, conductor
Outskirts of matter, for countertenor/baritone and ensemble.
Commission of Wiener Collage, soloists and members of the Wiener Philarmoniker.
Première: Arnold Schoenberg Center, Vienna. 22 December 2020.
Wiener Collage. René Staar, conductor
Dedicated to Cecily Brown
Istitutional course at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold "Vom Spektralismus Griseys zum Polysystemismus von Alessio Elia" ("From the Spectralism of Grisey to the Polysystemism of Alessio Elia") realized by Andreas Luca Beraldo, professor of music analysis and orchestration, with the contribution of Alessio Elia.
Portrait-interview with Alessio Elia. Radio Vaticana. Interviewer: Marco Di Battista. Listen to it here (in Italian). Ultra septimam lunam for ensemble. Commission of SIMC - Società Italiana Musica Contemporanea for the 700th commemoration of Dante's death. Dedicated to NED Ensemble.
Première: 30 November 2021 - Museo del Novecento, Milano. NED Ensemble. Andrea Mannucci, conductor.
Istitutional course at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold "Vom Spektralismus Griseys zum Polysystemismus von Alessio Elia" ("From the Spectralism of Grisey to the Polysystemism of Alessio Elia") realized by Andreas Luca Beraldo, professor of music analysis and orchestration, with the contribution of Alessio Elia.
Caducae resonantiae for solo guitar. Commissioned by and dedicated to Katalin Koltai.
Première: 6 February 2022 - The Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin. Within Ulysses Journery 2022. Katalin Koltai, guitar.
Crypto-lounge of a dark left for ensemble.
Première: 19 November 2022. BMC - Budapest Music Center. Within the Festival "The day of listening 2022" (A Hallgatás Napja 2022).
Concerto Budapest Ligeti Ensemble. Peter Eötvös, conductor.
Il Canto segreto for three accordions. Commission of the 59th Festival "Nuova Consonanza".
Première: 10 December 2022. Ex mattatoio "La pelanda", Rome. Umberto Turchi, Riccardo Pugliese, Stefano Di Loreto, accordions.
Giovanni Piazza, beloved Maestro, in memoriam.
Out of the magic circle for flute soloist and ensemble. Commission of Associazione Musica Pura.
Première: 13 November 2022. Ex Convento di S. Francesco, Pordenone.
Andrea Salvi, flute soloist and Impronta ensemble. Andreas Luca Beraldo, conductor.
Dedicated to Andrea Salvi.
Etude for string quartet.
Première: 23 November 2022. K11, Budapest. Roman quartet. Alessio Elia, conductor.
Dedicated to the Roman quartet.
Wreiheit for wind orchestra. Commissioned by Dresdner Bläserphilharmonie.
Première 12 March 2023. Kulturpalast, Dresden. Dresdner Bläserphilharmonie. Andrea Barizza, conductor.
Octet for wind sintruments.
Asian première: 11 November 2022. Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Singapore. Boon Hua Lien, conductor.
UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING - EDITIO MUSICA BUDAPEST
Dinamismo in difesa dei sogni - Omaggio ad Umberto Boccioni for flute and piano.
Nocturnal awakened for wind quintet. Commissioned by Quintetto Anemos.
Performance: 18 February 2022 - Hungarian Institute of Culture, Paris. Quintetto Anemos.
Conifold transitions for clarinet soloist and ensemble. Commission of Gabor Varga.
Performance: 13 November 2022. Ex convento di S. Francesco, Pordenone. Nicola Zuccalà, clarinet soloist. Impronta ensemble. Andreas Luca Beraldo, conductor.
Istitutional course at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold "Vom Spektralismus Griseys zum Polysystemismus von Alessio Elia" ("From the Spectralism of Grisey to the Polysystemism of Alessio Elia") realized by Andreas Luca Beraldo, professor of music analysis and orchestration, with the contribution of Alessio Elia.
Lecture for the Peter Eötvös Foundation within the Festival "Ligeti 100" in Budapest.
Alessio Elia: The Hamburgisches Konzert by György Ligeti.
Published by Edition Impronta, the book includes the complete revision of the score and the correction of the numerous errors (over 300) present in the printed score, including instrumental parts, and in the manuscript.
Two unpublished movements of the Concerto, found by Alessio Elia at the Sacher Foundation (Ligeti Collection), together with all the preparatory sketches are published for the first time in the book.
On the same date (May, 28, 2023) the first performance of the Hamburgisches Konzert based on Alessio Elia's revision took place at the Budapest Music Center, with the Concerto Budapest Ligeti Ensemble conducted by Peter Eötvös.
L'impermanenza della Memoria for flute, cello and piano.
Commission of Alter Ego ensemble for the Ligeti 100 Festival in Budapest.
Premiere: BMC - Budapest Music Center. 23 May 2023. Manuel Zurria - flute, Francesco Dillon - cello, Emanuele Torquati - piano.
Premiere of Wreiheit for wind orchestra. Commissioned by Dresdner Bläserphilharmonie.
12 March 2023. Kulturpalast, Dresden. Dresdner Bläserphilharmonie. Andrea Barizza, conductor.
Celestial keys for 2 sopranos and chamber orchestra.
Premiere: BMC - Budapest Music Center. 5 November 2023. Festival "The Day of Listening" (A hallgatás napja).
Márta Murányi, Judit Szathmáry – soprano. Concerto Budapest Ligeti Ensemble. László Tihanyi, conductor
2024
ACTIVITIES
He is appointed visiting professor of composition at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Mannheim.
In December 2024, Brilliant Classics released the CD "Celestial Keys", a monographic album featuring Alessio Elia's orchestral works.
MUSICAL WORKS
Premiere of the version for flute with glissando headjoint and harp of Out of the Magic Circle.
5 April 2024. S. Cecilia Conservatory of Music, Rome. Andrea Salvi - flute with glissando headjoint, Giulia Bigioni - harp.
German premiere of L'Impermanenza della Memoria.
6 May 2024. Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Mannheim.
Kathrin Haberkern - flute, Annemone Hoffmann - cello, Sanghee Kim - piano, Wonseok Kang - piano assistant.
Hyunsik Shin - conductor
Hungarian Premiere of Out of the Magic Circle.
1 July 2024. Budapest Music Center. Ensemble Impronta: Andrea Salvi - glissando headjoint flute, Csaba Pálfi - clarinet, Yamagami Sohei - piano. Roman Quartet: Mikola Román - violin, Ádám Radics - violin, Bence Hargitai - viola, Chung Hosung - cello.
Eddi de Nadai - conductor.
Voids of Inequality for basset clarinet and string quartet.
Commission of Mozartfest Schwetzingen.
Premiere: 11 October 2024. Jagdsall, Schloss Schwetzingen. Schwetzinger Mozartfest 2024. Nikolaus Friedrich, basset clarinet.
Chaos String Quartet (Susanne Schäffer, Eszter Kruchió - violins, Sara Marzadori - viola, Bas Jongen - cello).
Forme uniche della continuità nello spazio for orchestra.
Commission of Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo.
Premiere: 14 December 2024. Sanremo. Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo.
Mateusz Molęda, conductor.
The Invisible Flame for solo violin.
Dedicated to Mikola Roman.
Varianti for solo piano.
Première: 26 April 2025. Danzi Saal, Musikschule Schwetzingen. Alessio Elia, piano.
On the occasion of the celebration for the 65th birthday of the American composer Sidney Corbett.
Written for Sidney Corbett's 65th birthday and dedicated to him.
For the next performances click here
[updated on June 1, 2025]