Verdi Remix

Description

Verdi Remix is a program where creations and reinterpretations of Giuseppe Verdi's music are intertwined. The original compositions are infused with Verdi's spirit, designed to be incorporated into the Italian composer's originals, thus creating a repertoire that is both surprising and familiar within an overarching dramaturgy. The Mirifique Orchestra is a perfect setting for such experiments. It brings together classical musicians and improvisers. As both a bandstand orchestra and a big band, a small ensemble and a chamber orchestra, it is a gathering of curious, innovative, and demanding artists who help blur stylistic boundaries. Mixed with the creations, the reinterpretations of Verdi are not traditional arrangements; they largely involve rewriting. I have used various techniques that I am accustomed to, such as reharmonization and the creation of a polyrhythmic framework serving as the skeleton of the piece. This polyrhythm is sometimes evident, played by pulsating instruments, but often masked, outlining the contours of internal cycles, serving as a matrix for the development of personal colors and counterpoints. Regarding the works borrowed from Verdi, the melody is always preserved, but the environment has changed; it is not just a matter of orchestration but a recoloring. At times, it is not easy to determine what is Verdi and what is invention, as everything is intentionally (re)mixed, this idea being part of the process. In my view, it is this blend that makes this music new and completely of our time, even though it uses a significant amount of pre-existing material. With this program, I continue to carve my path as a composer free from labels, alternating and combining reinterpretations and creation ex nihilo.