Mortari, Virgilio

Mortari, Virgilio, Italian composer and pedagogue; b. Passirana di Lainate, near Milan, Dec. 6, 1902; d. Rome, Sept. 6, 1993. He began his training at the Milan Cons, with Bossi and Pizzetti, and then completed his studies at the Parma Cons, (composition diploma, 1928). After appearances as a pianist, he taught composition at the Venice Cons. (1933–40). From 1940 to 1973 he was a prof, of composition at the Rome Cons. He also served as superintendent of the Teatro La Fenice in Venice from 1955 to 1959. With A. Casella, he wrote the book Le tecnica dell’orchestra contemporanea (Milan, 1947; 2^nd ed., 1950). Mortari completed Mozart’s unfinished score L’Oca del Cairo (Salzburg, Aug. 22, 1936).

Works

dramatic: opera:Secchi e Sberlecchi (1927); La scuola delle moglie (1930; rev. 1959); La Figlia del diavolo(Milan, March 24,1954); II contratto(1964). ballet:L’allegro piazetta (1945); Specchio a tre luci (1973). orch.:Fantasia for Piano and Orch. (1933); Concerto for String Quartet and Orch. (1937); Notturno incantato (1940); 2 piano concertos (1952, 1960); Viola Concerto (1966); Double Bass Concerto (1966); Violin Concerto (1967); Eleonora d’Arborea, overture (1968); Double Concerto for Violin, Piano, and Orch. (1968); Cello Concerto (1969); Tripartita (1972); Harp Concerto (1972). chamber: Harp Sonatina (1938); Piccola serenata for Cello (1946) and for Violin (1947); Duettini concertati for Violin and Double Bass (1966); Capriccio for Violin (1967); Les Adieux for Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1978); Offerta musicale for Violin, Cello, and Double Bass (1980); Divertimento for Bassoon and Cello (1986). vocal: 2 Funeral Psalms in memory of A. Casella for Voice and Instruments (1947); Stabat Mater (1947); Requiem(1959); Alfabeto a sorpresa for 3 Voices and 2 Pianos (1959); Gloria for Chorus, 2 Pianos, and Orch. (1980); Domande e risposte for Soprano, Baritone, and String Quartet (1983); Missa pro pace for Chorus and Organ (1984); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire