Goffredo Petrassi

The Italian composer Goffredo Petrassi was born at Zagarolo, near Rome, on 16 July 1904. He was trained at a choir school and later studied music in his spare time.

His works are predominately neoclassic, and the development can be traced in a series of eight Concertos for orchestra written between 1933 and 1972.

Petrassi wrote ballets, choral music and opera. Although his output was quite small, he was an important figure on the twentieth century Italian music scene.

He died in Rome on 3 March 2003, aged ninety-eight.

 

A selection of articles about Goffredo Petrassi

Classical music news. Obituary - Karl Korte (1928-2022)

Ensemble. Modern Italian Music in Rome - Works by Francesco Pennisi, Goffredo Petrassi and Marcello Panni, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Roman Pietas - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Petrassi and Shostakovich in Rome

Ensemble. A Pleasure Garden - Two summer concerts on an evening in Rome, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Short Bittersweet Opera - Stravinsky's 'A Soldier's Tale', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Successful and Fulfilling - On the rediscovery of the Italian symphonic tradition, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Record Box. Superb Performances - Ursula Oppens plays Elliott Carter, celebrated by Patric Standford

Profile. Luciano Chailly - The career of one of Italy's most striking musical personalities, reviewed by Roderic Dunnett, who met and interviewed him