Ildebrando Pizzetti (1880–1968) was an Italian composer, music theorist, and teacher whose work bridges the late Romantic tradition and early twentieth-century modernism. A member of the so-called “Generation of the Eighties” alongside Ottorino Respighi, Gian Francesco Malipiero, and Alfredo Casella, Pizzetti sought to redefine Italian music by reconnecting it with the country’s Renaissance and Baroque heritage. Deeply inspired by early polyphony, Gregorian chant, and classical drama, he cultivated a style marked by modal harmony, contrapuntal clarity, and a profound sense of lyricism. Beyond composition, he was an influential pedagogue, teaching at the conservatories of Florence and Milan and later directing the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome.
Pizzetti’s Piano Trio in A major (1904) is an early work that reflects both his academic training and his emerging individuality. Written while still under the influence of Romantic models such as Brahms and Franck, the trio nonetheless reveals Pizzetti’s characteristic Italianate warmth and structural discipline. Its melodic contours often echo the inflections of Italian vocal writing, while its harmonic palette experiments with modal color. The work’s three movements display a balance between lyrical expressiveness and contrapuntal craftsmanship, suggesting the composer’s lifelong fascination with vocal polyphony adapted to instrumental textures.
In contrast, the “Tre Canti” for cello and piano (1924) exemplify Pizzetti’s mature idiom. Composed two decades later, these three short pieces distill his refined sense of melody and austerity. Each “Canto” unfolds as an expressive monologue, the cello singing with quasi-vocal intensity over restrained piano writing. Modal inflections and chant-like phrasing create an atmosphere of meditative introspection, while subtle rhythmic freedom evokes the flexibility of spoken or sung language. Together, the Tre Canti encapsulate Pizzetti’s search for a timeless musical expression-rooted in Italy’s ancient past yet articulated in a modern, deeply personal voice.
Also included in this program are 3 short works for violin and piano.
Trio Hèrmes is an Italian piano trio formed by Ginevra Bassetti (violin), Francesca Giglio (cello), and Marianna Pulsoni (piano). The ensemble trained under the Trio di Parma and Pierpaolo Maurizzi at Parma’s Conservatory, then at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, and at the Walter Stauffer Academy with the Quartetto di Cremona.
They have won prizes such as the European Music Competition “Città di Moncalieri” and the Crescendo Prize in Florence, and in 2024 they received the Giovanna Maniezzo Award.
