Giulia Giachin. Dallapiccola and Matisse

This book sheds light on the unique relationship between two major figures of twentieth-century European culture, the composer Luigi Dallapiccola and the painter Henri Matisse, highlighting an artistic encounter that is as remarkable as it is little known.

At the heart of the story lies an ambitious project: the creation of a ballet dedicated to the mythological figure of Diana, born from the idea of creating a dialogue between Dallapiccola’s music and Matisse’s art. However, this project was never completed and was cut short during the Second World War, leaving a fascinating question unanswered: to what extent might two artistic languages, seemingly so distant, have come together?

Musicologist Maria Cristina Riffero will be leading the discussion with the author Giulia Giachin, guiding the audience on a journey of discovery through the events, themes and cultural connections that form the basis of the book.

The words will be accompanied by music. Giacomo Indemini on the violin and viola will, in fact, perform a number of pieces directly linked to the figure of Dallapiccola: the Sarabande, taken from the Two Studies for Violin and Piano, and the  Sonata in E minor by Antonio Vivaldi for cello and basso continuo, in Dallapiccola’s arrangement for viola and piano. During the event, it will also be possible to hear short excerpts from Sicut Umbra, one of the most important and representative compositions of Dallapiccola’s artistic career.