Luigi Nono

Born in Venice in 1924, Luigi Nono studied law at the University of Padua. At the Benedetto-Marcello Conservatory in Venice, Gian Francesco Malipiero introduced him to Renaissance musicians and theorists, as well as to the Vienna School and the work of Bartók. Nono then met Bruno Maderna, and in 1948 deepened his knowledge of Dallapiccola's works with the conductor Hermann Scherchen. In 1959, in Darmstadt, he gave a lecture entitled "Présence historique dans la musique d'aujourd'hui" (Historical presence in today's music), written in collaboration with his pupil Helmut Lachenmann, which provoked strong reactions. The 1960s were marked by research at the Studio of Phonology in Milan and intense political involvement: Nono travelled to Eastern Europe and South America, where he met the leading figures of the communist and revolutionary movements. His interest in theatre was also evident in his collaborations with Josef Svoboda (Intolleranza), Erwin Piscator (Die Ermittlung), the Living Theater (A floresta é jovem e cheja de vida) and others. In 1987, he was in Paris for a cycle of his works at the Festival d'Automne, and died in Venice three years later.