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Roberto Cacciapaglia
Roberto Cacciapaglia male wearing glasses and white shirt and looking straight into the camera
Background information
Birth nameRoberto Cacciapaglia
BornMilan, Italy
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentPiano
Years active1974 – present
LabelsDecca Records, Believe Digital
Websitewww.robertocacciapaglia.com

Roberto Cacciapaglia (born in Milan, Italy) is an Italian composer and pianist known for blending classical music with electronic experimentalism. A pioneer in the fusion of genres, Cacciapaglia released Italy's first quadraphonic LP, Sonanze, in 1975..[1] His work includes 24 albums and numerous soundtracks, such as the acclaimed Tree of Life Suite, which was performed at the Expo 2015 Milano with the Teatro alla Scala Academy Orchestra.[2] Over his career, he has collaborated with prestigious ensembles like the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recording five albums with the orchestra, including Diapason, which was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.[3] He has performed in renowned venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall in New York,[4] Cadogan Hall in London,[5] the Queen's Hall[6] and the Scottish Parliament[7] in Edinburgh, La Fenice in Venice[8] and many others. Cacciapaglia continues to influence contemporary classical music nowadays, focusing on integrating innovative technology and classical traditions.

Biography

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Education and Early Career

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Cacciapaglia graduated in composition from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan, studying under renowned composer Bruno Bettinelli. He also pursued studies in orchestral conducting and electronic music. During this period, he worked at the Rai Phonology Studio and collaborated with the National Research Council (CNR) in Pisa, focusing on computer applications in music. This phase of his career was marked by exploration and experimentation, including his collaboration with Franco Battiato on the Pollution tour.[9].

The German Period

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In 1974, Cacciapaglia connected with Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser of the German label Ohr, a pioneer in cosmic music exploration. Kaiser released Roberto's debut album, Sonanze, where Cacciapaglia experimented with electronic instruments such as keyboards and synthesizers, merging them with contemporary symphonic influences.[9].

Sonanze was Italy's first quadraphonic LP, and through this project, Cacciapaglia collaborated with notable German groups like Popol Vuh, Tangerine Dream, and Wallenstein. Four years later, together with the National Research Council (CNR) Cacciapaglia released Sei Note in Logica (Six Notes in Logic released by Philips – 1978),[10] a work for voices, orchestra, and computer, marking a minimalist evolution in his style.

1980s and 1990s

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In 1980s Cacciapaglia collaborated with various artists by working as a producer in the field of pop-rock music. In 1981 he produced an album G. N. for Gianna Nannini.[11] In 1983 he produced, arranged and composed 5 tracks for the album Tam-Tam of Amanda Lear.[12] Same year Cacciapaglia collaborated with singer Giuni Russo, arranging her album Vox and composing the track Le grandi colpe..[13] He also arranged Ivan Cattaneo's album Bandiera Gialla.[14] In 1985 Cacciapaglia arranged the album Gioielli Rubati for Alice.[15]

In 1986, Ricordi published his two-act opera Generazioni del cielo (Generations of the Sky), which premiered at the Teatro Metastasio in Prato and later at Teatro Lingotto in Turin. The opera was performed again in 2024 at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan as part of the Panorami Sonori series, together with the I Pomeriggi Musicali orchestra.[16] That same year, he composed Lamentazioni di Geremia (Lamentations of Jeremiah) for the Tel Aviv International Festival and Orient Occident Festival in Jerusalem.

In 1988, Cacciapaglia performed Terry Riley's In C at the Aterforum Festival in Ferrara, that was later released in vinyl by Mirumir.[17] From those years are Aurea Carmina (1988), commissioned by the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome; Il segreto dell'Alba (The Secret of the Dawn, 1989), a ballet-pantomime commissioned by the Teatro Comunale di Bologna; Un giorno X (1990), a video opera performed at the Milan Conservatory featuring Gianna Nannini and the Orchestra dei Pomeriggi Musicali; and the musical fairy tale Le mille e una notte (1991), presented at the 'Berliner Festspiele' in Berlin and later at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto.

His experimental approach continued with the release of the albums Angelus Rock (1992) and Tra cielo e Terra (1996).

2000s

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During the 2000s, Roberto Cacciapaglia emerged as a leading figure in the neoclassical music scene, recognized for his innovative fusion of classical and experimental sounds. A pivotal aspect of this period was his collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which led to the release of critically acclaimed albums such as Quarto Tempo (2007)[18] , Canone degli Spazi (2009),[19] and Ten Directions (2010).[20] These works showcased his mastery in combining orchestral grandeur with contemporary electronic elements, solidifying his reputation internationally.

His earlier albums, including Arcana (2001), Tempus Fugit (2003), and Incontri con l'anima (2005), also demonstrated his evolving style and received wide recognition.[21] Tracks from these albums, like Lux libera nos, became emblematic of his approach to neoclassical composition.

While Cacciapaglia's work has occasionally been featured in commercial soundtracks for brands such as Barilla, Fiat, Campari, and Illy, his primary focus remains on expanding the boundaries of orchestral and electronic music through distinguished collaborations and solo projects.

2010s

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In 2012 Cacciapaglia founded the Educational Music Academy to give voice to young musicians.[22]

In 2013 Cacciapaglia composed Antartica to accompany the European Concordia Expedition in Antarctica by the European Space Agency.[23][24]

In 2014, Cacciapaglia released Alphabet, recorded at Sala Verdi of the Milan Conservatory and published on January 28 by Decca Records – Universal Music.[25] The album was presented in concert at the Sala delle 8 Colonne in the Royal Palace of Milan.[26]

Tree of Life, featuring the Tree of Life Suite composed for the evening show at Expo 2015, was released on May 26, 2015, by Believe Digital. It was performed live with the Teatro alla Scala Academy Orchestra at the Open Air Theatre during the Expo celebrations.[2]

On November 25, 2016, he released Atlas, a compilation album containing 28 tracks, including highlights from his career and two new compositions: Reverse and Mirabilis.[27] It also featured an instrumental version of David Bowie's Starman, serving as a requiem in Bowie's memory.

A frequent guest at La Milanesiana by Elisabetta Sgarbi, he has performed various concerts, including one with Derek Walcott, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Wole Soyinka, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, and Mente Radiosa, composed for an evening with Rita Levi-Montalcini, Nobel Prize winner for Medicine.[28]

In 2018, the American rapper T-Pain featured Roberto Cacciapaglia on the track Second Chance (Don't Back Down). The song incorporates a composition by Cacciapaglia, blending his neoclassical style with T-Pain's rap elements.[29]

In 2018, Quarto Tempo – 10th Anniversary Edition was released as a deluxe double album in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It included the original 12 tracks, solo piano versions, and a previously unreleased piece titled Il Ragazzo che Sognava Aeroplani. To promote the album, Cacciapaglia embarked on the Celebration Tour 2018, which began in Moscow (Gnesin Hall) and spanned various cities in Russia (Saint Petersburg - Jaani Kirik (St. John's Church), Yekaterinburg - Philharmonia Triumph, Perm - State Institute of Arts, Krasnoyarsk - State Institute of Arts, Novosibirsk - Energy Cultural Space),[30] Italy (Florence - Teatro Verdi, Bolzano - Teatro Cristallo, Rome - Auditorium Parco della Musica-Sala Petrassi, Bologna - Teatro Duse, Verona - Teatro Camploy, Turin - Teatro Colosseo and Fasano - Teatro Kennedy)[31] and the United States (Miami – North Beach Bandshell, New York – Carnegie Hall, San Francisco – Herbst Theatre and Los Angeles – Zipper Hall) ..[32]

That same year, Cacciapaglia's first authorized biography, Roberto Cacciapaglia: Atlante del Quarto Tempo, written by Jacopo Caneva, was published. The book explores his artistic, musical, and spiritual journey, tracing his evolution from the early cosmic work Sonanze to the success of Tree of Life at EXPO 2015.[33]

In 2019, he released Diapason, an album of original compositions recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios, London.,[34] The album's release marked the beginning of the Diapason Worldwide Tour, featuring 15 performances across Italian theaters[35][36] , followed by international shows in Russia,[37] China,[38] and the United States. His Carnegie Hall concert in New York was recognized as the "Best Live Act 2019" by Bluebird Reviews.[39]

2020s

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In 2020, Cacciapaglia released the single Days of Experience, a piece composed during the COVID-19 pandemic[40] and performed it online on his official Facebook page on October 24.

On October 8, 2021, he released a second single, Angel Falls, which premiered on Scala Radio in the UK. The piece was performed live during his London debut at Cadogan Hall on November 9, 2021,[41] following a concert at the Milan Conservatory on November 5, 2021.[42][43]

At the 2020 Summer Olympics and the Kitakyushu Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in 2021, the Italian rhythmic gymnastics team, the Farfalle Azzurre, won the gold medal by performing to Cacciapaglia's Tree of Life Suite.[44]

On February 24, 2023, he released his new album, Invisible Rainbows, under Ingrooves (label of Universal Music Group), which was later available on vinyl and CD in the UK and the US. The album, recorded in Dolby Atmos with the I Virtuosi Italiani orchestra, was preceded by three singles: Atlantis, London Sleeps, and Rainbows — which quickly topped the charts in the UK, Italy, and China.[45][46] On March 14, 2023, Cacciapaglia was honored with the Montale Fuori di Casa 2023 Award for Music in Milan.[47]

In September 2023, he released Invisible Rainbows – Solo Piano, a solo piano version of Invisible Rainbows, presented at London's Cadogan Hall on September 30.[5] In the same month Cacciapaglia was a guest on Loose Ends on BBC Radio 4, hosted by Clive Anderson and Anneka Rice.[48]

In April 2024 Cacciapaglia performed his album Invisible Rainbows in the Queen's Hall of Edinburgh.[6] He also participated in the Festival of Politics 2024 by performing in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.[7] Currently, Cacciapaglia is working on his upcoming album, Time to Be, set for release in November 2024.[49] His latest single, Borderland, released on September 18, 2024, achieved remarkable success, reaching #1 on Italy's Apple Music chart (Classical) within two days of its release and climbing to #4 on the UK chart.

Environmental Protection Awareness

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Cacciapaglia is deeply committed to environmental causes, using his music as a medium for advocacy. On April 22, 2017, he performed at Piazza del Popolo in Rome for Earth Day, a global celebration dedicated to raising environmental awareness.[50]

His composition Whale Shark Symphony was featured in the Al Nehem art installation by Marco Balich during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, focusing on Qatar's efforts to protect whale sharks.[51]

In 2018, fashion designer Stella McCartney selected Roberto Cacciapaglia's piece Sparkling World,[52] from his 1979 album The Ann Steel Album,[53] for the advertising campaign of her Spring/Summer collection. The campaign highlighted eco-conscious and animal-friendly materials, aligning with Cacciapaglia's commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness. Same year Cacciapaglia's composition My Time, was used for The Sonia Rykiel Spring/Summer 2018 commercial.[54]

Discography

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Studio Albums

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  • 1975 - Sonanze
  • 1979 - Sei note in logica
  • 1979 - The Ann Steel Album
  • 1986 - Generazioni del cielo
  • 1986 - Le lamentazioni di Geremia
  • 1988 - Aurea carmina
  • 1989 - Il segreto dell'alba
  • 1990 - Un giorno X
  • 1991 - Le mille e una notte
  • 1992 - Angelus Rock
  • 1996 - Tra cielo e terra
  • 2001 - Arcana
  • 2003 - Tempus fugit
  • 2005 - Incontri con l'anima
  • 2007 - Quarto tempo
  • 2009 - Canone degli spazi
  • 2010 - Ten Directions - Il lancio del pensiero
  • 2014 - Alphabet
  • 2015 - Tree of Life
  • 2015 - Transarmonica
  • 2016 - Atlas
  • 2019 - Diapason
  • 2023 - Invisible Rainbows

Live Albums

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  • 2011 - Live from Milan

Opera

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  • 1986 - Generazioni del Cielo (Generations of the Sky)
  • 1988 - Le Lamentazioni di Geremia (Lamentations of Jeremiah)
  • 1988 - Transarmonica
  • 1988 - Aurea Carmina
  • 1989 - Il Segreto dell'Alba (The Secret of the Dawn)
  • 1990 - Un Giorno X (X-Day)
  • 1991 - Le Mille e una Notte (Thousand and One Nights)

Social Media Profiles

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References

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  1. ^ Donini, Maurizio (February 12, 2019). "ROBERTO CACCIAPAGLIA - Intervista su musica cosmica e "Diapason"".
  2. ^ a b "Roberto Cacciapaglia, L'Albero della vita dell'EXPO è musica". la Repubblica. December 17, 2015.
  3. ^ "Different Magazine, Roberto Cacciapaglia: è uscito "Diapason", il nuovo disco registrato con la Royal Philharmonic Orchestra negli Abbey Road Studios di Londra". 25 February 2019.
  4. ^ Costantini, Fiammetta (October 5, 2018). "Il pianista e compositore ROBERTO CACCIAPAGLIA per la prima volta in tour negli USA con 4 date live a MIAMI, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO e LOS ANGELES!".
  5. ^ a b "Roberto Cacciapaglia | Cadogan Hall". cadoganhall.com.
  6. ^ a b "Roberto Cacciapaglia | Thurs 28 Sept". The Queen's Hall.
  7. ^ a b "Festival of Politics 2024: In Conversation with Benedetta Tagliabue with a performance by Roberto Cacciapaglia (BSL) | Scottish Parliament TV" – via www.scottishparliament.tv.
  8. ^ "Roberto Cacciapaglia - Teatro La Fenice di Venezia". Teatro La Fenice.
  9. ^ a b Antonello Cresti (2014). Solchi Sperimentali. Una guida alle musiche altre. CRAC Edizioni.
  10. ^ "The Other Music Update". othermusic.com.
  11. ^ "Gianna Nannini - G. N." Discogs. 1981.
  12. ^ "Amanda Lear - Tam-Tam". Discogs. 1983.
  13. ^ "Giuni Russo - Vox". Discogs. 1983.
  14. ^ "Ivan Cattaneo - Bandiera Gialla". Discogs. 1983.
  15. ^ "Alice - Gioielli Rubati". Discogs. 1985.
  16. ^ "Generazioni del cielo".
  17. ^ "Terry Riley, Roberto Cacciapaglia Ensemble – In C – Soundohm". www.soundohm.com.
  18. ^ s.r.l, Rockol com. "√ Roberto Cacciapaglia - QUARTO TEMPO - la recensione di Rockol". Rockol.
  19. ^ "Rockol: Roberto Cacciapaglia – Canone degli spazi - la recensione".
  20. ^ "Rockol: Roberto Cacciapaglia, è 'Ten directions - Il lancio del pensiero' il nuovo album".
  21. ^ "ROBERTO CACCIAPAGLIA - Incontri Con L'Anima (2005)". Progarchives.com.
  22. ^ "Educational Music Academy: official website".
  23. ^ "The kingdom of light is about to endLa tavolozza dei colori – Chronicles from Concordia".
  24. ^ "A winter nightUna notte d'inverno – Chronicles from Concordia".
  25. ^ "Il Giornale: «Il mio "Alphabet"? Cerchi concentrici sul pentagramma» by Piera Anna Franini".
  26. ^ Magazine, Oubliette (March 10, 2014). "Incontro con il Maestro Roberto Cacciapaglia: dagli esordi al suo ultimo album "Alphabet"".
  27. ^ "RaiNews.it: Roberto Cacciapaglia: "La musica è vita e condivisione"".
  28. ^ "La Milanesiana 2000-2018".
  29. ^ "Rockol: Testo della canzone Second Chance (T-Pain feat. Roberto Cacciapaglia), tratta dall'album Oblivion".
  30. ^ "Итальянский неоклассик Роберто Каччапалья дал старт российскому туру концертом в Москве". Рамблер/развлечения и отдых. February 13, 2018.
  31. ^ "Roberto Cacciapaglia: sabato 17 marzo il "Celebration Tour 2018" a Milano". SMS News Quotidiano. March 15, 2018.
  32. ^ "Dawns Of Creation - An Interview To The Italian Maestro And Composer Roberto Cacciapaglia - Bluebird Reviews". www.bluebirdreviews.com.
  33. ^ Jacopo Caneva (2018). Roberto Cacciapaglia. Atlante del quarto tempo, una biografia in musica. goware Edizioni.
  34. ^ "Diapason – To the sound to come". March 24, 2019.
  35. ^ "Il Diapason Worldwide Tour di Roberto Cacciapaglia fa tappa a Perugia". March 23, 2019.
  36. ^ "Roberto Cacciapaglia: oggi esce "Diapason", il nuovo disco registrato con la Royal Philharmonic Orchestra". January 18, 2019.
  37. ^ "Интервью: Роберто Каччапалья о новом альбоме «Diapason» и предстоящем туре | NEOCLASSICA". НЕОКЛАССИКА. December 7, 2023.
  38. ^ "Il pianista e compositore Roberto Cacciapaglia in Cina".
  39. ^ "Bluebird Reviews Awards 2019 - The Winners - Bluebird Reviews". www.bluebirdreviews.com.
  40. ^ Molteni, Maria Elena (October 24, 2020). "INTERVISTA/Roberto Cacciapaglia, avverto un 'risveglio' di un certo tipo di musica".
  41. ^ Ewingpublished, Jerry (November 4, 2021). "Italian composer Roberto Cacciapaglia releases video for Angel Falls". louder.
  42. ^ "Tra classica ed elettronica Roberto Cacciapaglia in concerto alla Sala Verdi del Conservatorio di Milano". www.tgcom24.mediaset.it.
  43. ^ "Roberto Cacciapaglia in concerto a Milano". October 30, 2021.
  44. ^ "Europei di Varna - Le Farfalle azzurre sono vice Campionesse d'Europa! La Russia vince il titolo continentale". www.federginnastica.it.
  45. ^ Manin, Giuseppina (March 15, 2023). "Roberto Cacciapaglia: «Mi ispiro a Pitagora per comporre musica terapeutica»". Corriere della Sera.
  46. ^ "Leggo: Roberto Cacciapaglia torna in tour con Invisible Rainbows. Ecco tutte le date italiane".
  47. ^ "Roberto Cacciapaglia".
  48. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Loose Ends, Caroline Quentin, Paul Whitehouse, Tom Walker AKA Jonathan Pie, Sam Quek, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Gemma Rogers, Anneka Rice". BBC.
  49. ^ "Roberto Cacciapaglia torna con un nuovo tour "Time to Be"".
  50. ^ "Earth Day 2017: a Roma il "Concerto per la Terra" con Noemi, Sergio Sylvestre e Ron". Today.
  51. ^ Newspaper, The Peninsula (November 17, 2022). "Qatari Diar unveils 'Al Nehem' whale shark installation on Lusail Boulevard". thepeninsulaqatar.com.
  52. ^ "Rockol News: Roberto Cacciapaglia firma le musiche della stilista Stella McCartney".
  53. ^ Neyland, Nick. "Roberto Cacciapaglia: The Ann Steel Album". Pitchfork.
  54. ^ "Sonia Rykiel SS18 (Commercial)". Ariel Sommer - synch2it Music Supervision.
  55. ^ http://www.robertocacciapaglia.com
  56. ^ "Roberto Cacciapaglia Official". YouTube.
  57. ^ "Instagram".
  58. ^ https://www.facebook.com/RobertoCacciapaglia
  59. ^ "Roberto Cacciapaglia". Spotify.
  60. ^ "Roberto Cacciapaglia su Apple Music".

Category:20th-century Italian composers