(b. 1960, Bormio).
Italian composer of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, choral, and jazz works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a jazz pianist.
Mr. Festa studied piano as a child. He later studied arrangement, composition and piano with Franco D'Andrea, Giancarlo Gazzani and Enrico Pieranunzi at the Siena Jazz Workshop in the late 1970s and privately with Mal Waldron in Munich in 1981–82. He also studied composition and jazz arrangement with Ettore Ballotta at the Conservatorio Giovanni Battista Martini in Bologna from 1978–81.
His music has been performed in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, and the USA. He has received commissions from numerous theatres in Italy, including the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, and the Teatro Municipale Valli in Reggio Emilia.
As a jazz pianist, he co-founded with Maurizio Bozzi the jazz band Festa Group in 1979 and has served as its director and pianist since 1979, with which he has toured Europe and made two appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The Festa Group made its début in the USA in 2000.
He is also active in other positions. He has served as artistic director of the competition 2 Agosto in Bologna since 1995 and of the Teatro della Fortuna in Fano since 2002. He founded the collective Auranova in 2002. He has also served as artistic consultant to the concert society Musica Insieme in Bologna since 1989 and served as artistic consultant to the contemporary company Aterballetto in 2002 and as artistic consultant for programmes of contemporary music to the Teatro Comunale in Bologna from 2005–07, for which he has given regular lectures on music since 2007. In addition, he collaborates regularly as a writer with the newspaper La Repubblica and the magazine Opera and has served as editor of the magazine Musica Insieme since 1990.
He has taught arrangement and orchestration at the Conservatorio Giovanni Battista Martini since 2001 and has served as assistant to the chair of the history of modern and contemporary theatre at the Discipline delle Arti, della Musica e dello Spettacolo at the Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia of the Università degli Studi in Bologna since 2001.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS (note that the composer uses 'E' instead of 'Op.'; dates unavailable for jazz compositions)
STAGE:
Viaggio nel paese degli Houyhnhnm (music-theatre work, text by Paolo Billi, after Jonathan Swift), speaker, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn/trumpet, bassoon, piano, E12, 1993
Gulliver (music-theatre work, text by Paolo Billi, after Jonathan Swift), speaker, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, E15, 1994 (a concert suite was arranged, E14)
Il Piccolo Hans (music-theatre work, text by the composer), speaker, 2 flutes, 2 harps, celesta, E29, 1995
Iqbal apologo in musica (music-theatre work, text by Paolo Billi), speaker, oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), violin, bass guitar, piano, E31, 1995
Il Volo (chamber opera, libretto by Paolo Billi), soprano, speaker, oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), violin, bass guitar, piano, E33, 1995
Ero e Leandro (lyric drama, text by Marcello Fois, after Christopher Marlowe), soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, speaker, small orchestra (12 players), E63, 1997
Tanit (musical drama, texts by Marcello Fois, Valerio Evangelisti), 2 actors, electronic keyboard, fixed media, E87, 2000
Gelsomino (music-theatre work, text by Gianni Rodari), speaker, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, E101, 2002
Il Lungo Pranzo di Natale (monologue in 4 parts, text by Giuseppe Liotta, after Thornton Wilder), speaker, orchestra, E105, 2002
ORCHESTRAL:
Suite in sol, cello, string orchestra, E11, 1993
Suite in do, violin, string orchestra, E22, 1994 (also version for flute, string orchestra, E22-bis, 1996)
Lune d'Inverno (text by Paolo Billi), speaker ad libitum, violin, small orchestra, E34, 1995 (also version as Iqbal Suite, violin, small orchestra, E34-bis, 1995–97)
Movida, large orchestra, E54, 1996
La Via Lattea (concerto), piano, large orchestra, E55, 1997
Concerto, string orchestra, E61, 1997
Suite in fa, clarinet/soprano saxophone, string orchestra, E66, 1998 (also version as Closed skies and Urban Dreams, clarinet, string orchestra, E66-bis, 2006)
Un Angelo alla luce del giorno (concerto), flute, large orchestra, E78, 1999
Ricercare della luce e della tenebra, string orchestra, E81, 2000
Verdissimo, large orchestra, E96, 2001
Kite Songs, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, large orchestra, E103, 2002
Pegasus, flute, string orchestra, E113, 2003
Tre Divertissements, small orchestra, E119–21, 2004 (its three sections may be performed separately: Roma Variations, E119; Tafel-music, E120; Kramerata, E121)
Sirene, small orchestra, E130, 2005
The Path beyond the Rocks, E136, 2005 (also version as Nomads, small orchestra, E136-bis, 2006)
Variazioni su un tema improprio, E145, 2006
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Piccola serenata, cello, piano, E3, 1989
Trio-Divertissement, French horn, violin, piano, E4, 1990
Preludio e Aria, trumpet, organ, E9, 1992
Toccata in mi, cello, E13, 1993
Gulliver, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, E14, 1994 (concert suite from stage work)
Cinque Serenate, violin, cello, E16, 1994
Canto per il sonno dei bambini, oboe, organ, E18, 1994 (also version for oboe, English horn, French horn, piano, E18-bis, 1994)
Toccata in la, cello, piano, E19, 1994
Bandiere, 2 oboes, 2 French horns, E20, 1994
Collage No. 1, 2 oboes, 2 French horns, piano, E21, 1994
Cinque Danze, French horn, trumpet, piano, E24, 1994
Sonata in la, cello, piano, E25, 1994
Quattro Pezzi, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, E26, 1994
Per la pace perpetua, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, E27, 1994
Toccata e Ricercare, oboe, organ, E28, 1994
Preludio, Aria e Finale, flute/violin, cello, piano, E30, 1995
Introitus, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, E38, 1996
Tre Capricci, violin, E39, 1996 (also expanded as Cinque Capricci, E39-bis, 1996–97)
Al vento, violin, piano/harpsichord, E56, 1996
La Mer est ton miroir, 2 flutes, 2 harps, celesta, E57, 1996
Al mare, clarinet, piano, E59, 1997
Paesaggi, guitar, E60, 1997
Trio, clarinet/violin, cello, piano, E62, 1997
Skyscrapers, flute, piano, E65, 1997
Iqbal Trio, clarinet, violin, piano, E67, 1998
Viaggiatore insonne, string quartet, E68, 1998
Cuerpo de mujer, clarinet, harp, E70, 1998 (also versions for flute, harp, E70-bis, 1999; flute, guitar, E70-tris, 2001)
Confinia noctis, flute, harp, viola, E71, 1998
Sonata, viola, piano, E74, 1999
Libera toccata prima, clarinet, E76, 1999 (also version for alto saxophone, E76-bis, 2000)
Volpe la bella, flute, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion, E77, 1999
Una Nuvola è caduta, clarinet, ensemble (flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello), E79, 1999
Libera toccata seconda, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, E80, 1999
Tre Toccate pittoriche, string quartet, E82, 2000
Libera toccata terza, 6 clarinets, 2 bass clarinets, E83, 2000
Wings in the light, flute, clarinet, cello, piano, E84, 2000 (version of jazz work)
Enjoy, string quartet, E85, 2000 (also versions for flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, E85-bis, 2000; 4 saxophones, E85-tris, 2002)
After the rain, soprano saxophone, piano, E88, 2000
Rossini Variations, clarinet, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, E90, 2001
Specchi, guitar, piano, E92, 2001
Omnia mutantur, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, piano, E93, 2001
Agalmata nuktos, clarinet, violin, piano, synthesizer, fixed media, E94, 2001
Preludi, flute/2 flutes, E95, 2001
At the beginning, flute, clarinet, electric guitar, synthesizer, accordion, E97, 2001
At the end, flute, clarinet, electric guitar, synthesizer, accordion, E97-bis, 2001
Clownerie, clarinet, accordion, E99, 2002 (also version for alto saxophone, accordion, E99-bis, 2002)
Libera toccata quarta, marimba, E100, 2002
Libera toccata quinta, harp, E102, 2002
Miles to run, flute, violin, piano, E104, 2002 (also version as Miles for five, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, E117, 2004)
Omnia Bismuta, clarinet, cello, piano, E106, 2003
Omnia Trismuta, clarinet, bassoon, piano, E107, 2003
Americana prima, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, E112, 2003
Cassandra, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, cello, piano, drum kit, E114, 2003
Uròburos, flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, E115, 2003
Urban Dances, electric 5-string viola, fixed media, E116, 2003
Omnia Tetranuta, clarinet, alto saxophone, piano, E118, 2004
New Lands, No Borders (text by Michael Hall), clarinet, cello, piano, synthesizer, fixed media, E123, 2004
Americana seconda, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, E124, 2004
Forget Me Not, flute, violin, E125, 2004
Take the wind, B-flat trumpet, fixed media, E126, 2004
Sortilegi, flute, E127, 2005
Rappin' the Blues, violin, piano, E128, 2005
Clandestino songs, piano, percussion, E132, 2005 (also version of first movement as Clandestino, E133)
Voglio fare il gentiluomo, harp, accordion, E134, 2005
Hibakusha, violin, viola, cello, E135, 2005
Alla memoria, guitar, E137, 2006
Salatarello, synthesizer, percussion, E139, 2006
Ma-zork, synthesizer, percussion, E140, 2006
Op-galup, synthesizer, percussion, E141, 2006
Variazioni a memoria, cello, piano, E143, 2006
Windows (tre pezzi), cello, E144, 2006
Clouds and Birds, alto saxophone, piano, E146, 2007
Revolution, 4 saxophones, E148, 2007
CHORAL:
Ad immagine e somiglianza (text by the composer), soprano, female chorus, large orchestra, E32, 1995
Digna Laude, mixed chorus, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, E37, 1996
Vera erant, female chorus, E75, 1999
Savino (text by Evelina Santangelo), mixed chorus, piano 4 hands, E98, 2002
VOCAL:
Hymnus (text by John Donne), soprano, organ, E2, 1989
Suite in re (text by Generoso De Blasi), soprano, orchestra, E5, 1992
Tre Canti (texts by Arthur Rimbaud, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Pier Paolo Pasolini), soprano, orchestra, E7, 1992
La Vita (text by Sandro Penna), soprano, piano, E8, 1992
Album americano (texts by Wallace Stevens, Vachel Lindsay, Robert Frost), soprano, alto saxophone, bass guitar, piano, drum kit, E10, 1992
Che farò quando trenta primavere... (text by Gianluca Braschi), soprano, string quartet, E23, 1994
Dulce lumen (text by the composer), soprano, piano, E35, 1995
Quando ci conosceremo (text by Marcello Fois), soprano, string quartet, E40, 1996
Fino a perdere il respiro (text by Marcello Fois), baritone, string quartet, E41, 1996
Forse ancora non sapete (text by Marcello Fois), soprano, string quartet, E42, 1996
Di un albero il ramo (text by the composer), soprano, E43, 1996
In alto svetto (text by the composer), soprano/countertenor, synthesizer, E44, 1996
Ma toccare il cielo non posso (text by the composer), soprano, synthesizer, E45, 1996
D'Aria alato (text by the composer), soprano, E46, 1996
Vicino e lontano (text by the composer), soprano, synthesizer, E47, 1996
Forse davvero (text by Marcello Fois), soprano, piano, E48, 1996
Nebbie (text by Carlo Vitali, after Leonardo da Vinci), soprano, piano, E58, 1996
Un Passo per l'altro (text by the composer), soprano, string quartet, E64, 1997
Laudes (cantata, text by the composer), soprano, speaker, small orchestra, E69, 1998
Laudes puerorum (cantata profana, text by the composer), soprano, speaker, oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), violin, cello, piano, E72, 1998
Sandaliotim (text by the composer), speaker, soprano saxophone (+ alto saxophone), bass guitar, piano, drum kit, orchestra, E86, 2000
Dolce la luce (text by the composer), soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, cello, E89, 2000
Compieta (text by Marcello Fois), soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, bass guitar, piano, synthesizer, E91, 2001
My Ikon (text by Michael Hall), soprano, string quartet, E122, 2004
Voices Reborn (text by Michael Hall), soprano, flute, clarinet, string orchestra, E131, 2005
Clandestino (vocalise), soprano, trumpet, large orchestra, E133, 2005 (version of first movement of Clandestino songs, E132)
A peaceful dawn (text by the composer), soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, drum kit, 2 violins, viola, cello, E138, 2006
La Prosperità del vizio (text compiled by the composer, after Donatien-Alphonse-François, Comte de Sade [Italian translation], Giordano Bruno, St. Hildegard of Bingen [Italian translation], Andreas Capellanus, Bernard de Gordon [Italian translation], Ioan Petru Culianu [Italian translation]), female speaker, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, E142, 2006
Nessuno è il mio nome (text by the composer, after Jules Verne), male speaker, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), Electronic Wind Instrument, electronic keyboard, fixed media, E147, 2007
PIANO:
Tre Preludi, E36, 1996
In un sol giorno, E73, 1999
Bach is cruising through interstellar space, E108, 2003
Iperbole – Libera toccata ottava, E129, 2005
Quasi un Tango, piano 4 hands, E149, 2007
ORGAN:
Toccata, Recitativo e Aria, E1, 1989
Toccata e Ricercare, E17, 1994
Preludio per il mare d'inverno, E111, 2003
RADIO PRODUCTIONS:
Quando ci conosceremo (text by Marcello Fois), E49, 1996
Prima dell'arcobaleno (text by the composer), E50, 1996
Buio (text by Marcello Fois), E51, 1996
In città piovono angeli (text by the composer), E52, 1996
La Verità su Leonardo (text by Marcello Fois), E53, 1996
Poesia e Musica (text by an unknown poet), 1997
Il Tamburino sardo (text by Marcello Fois), 2001
FILM SCORE (DIRECTOR):
Per non dimenticare, E6, 1992 (Massimo Martelli)
JAZZ COMPOSITIONS:
Alba
Before the ending winter
Bird's occupation's gone
Birds at dawn
Birds cover the moon
Birds cover the sun
Congo Square
Don't forget a lullaby (collaboration with Maurizio Bozzi)
Dragon's flags
Ergobando
Evening song
Every one of us (collaboration with Maurizio Bozzi)
Flying sharks attack birds over the sea
Highway ramblin'
Pax hominibus
Prince of the birds
Queen of the birds
Running on the waves
Silvanamoon
Il Sole dietro le colline
South Pacific stars
Swinging lake
Thea smiles
Thea's lullaby
Toy piece
Twilight birds are watching through our windows
Wings in the light (also version for flute, clarinet, cello, piano, E84)