Il premio di Composizione "Prix de Rome"

L'elenco dei vincitori del Premio di Composizione "Prix de Rome" è stato preso dal sito della "The Morrison Foundation for Musical Research, Inc."

Footnotes and Comments

1. Berlioz states (Memoires of Hector Berlioz, Trns. D. Cairns, pg.76) that Rifaut was the mediocre pianist who attempted to play Berlioz’s Bacchanale for his Institute Examination and floundered in the middle until it completely broke down. The judges (Cherubini, et al,) condemned the work as unplayable. Ironically, two years later, Rifaut was appointed as Professor of Accompaniment at the Conservatoire. Rifaut was at the Villa Medici (Prix de Rome) from Dec. 20, 1821 to Dec.31, 1823)
2. Elwart authored Histoire de la Socièté des Concerts [op. cit., p. 277];Elwart was known as an orator, especially eulogies, but Berlioz, who died first, was unimpressed by his ability as a speaker. He said of Elwart "If you are to speak at my funeral, I prefer not to die." (http://www.hberlioz.com/Paris/BPTriniteF.html)
3. Father of Ernest Guiraud winner of the Prix de Rome in 1859
4. Berlioz in preparation for a concert with the Weimar orchestra in 1843, spoke highly of Kapellmeister Chelard saying, "…like a true artist, and also compatriot and old friend, did everything possible to help me achieve my ends. In my honor, Chelard and Lobe had hunted up all the extra string players they could find to augment its normal strength…" After Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique, Chelard "declared for him the March to the Scaffold came before everything else…" [op. cit, pp.288-290]
5. Panseron was professor of Harmony at the Conservatoire, a conductor, author, and opera composer. He was among the first to publicly criticize Berlioz writing an unfavorable review of his concert given May 26, 1828 that included 2 overtures, Resurrexit from his Mass, and the Sacred March of the Magi. (op. cit., p.102-103).
6. Conte, a student a Carafa; David, a student of Halévy; and Massenet, a student of Thomas, as Prix de Rome laureates, all competed in 1867 to provide a one-act work for the Opéra-Comiqué. Massenet finished well ahead of Conte and David and was given priority. The result was La Grand’ Tante. It was performed 17 times. (Massenet: A. Chronicle of His Life and Times, D. Irvine, pg.48)
7. Composer, teacher, and Prix de Rome laureate of 1819, Fromental Halévy, commented on Prix de Rome laureates' works sent from Rome to the conservatoire in Paris. Of Cohen's Misse sollennelle, he said, "The style is not always as elevated as the subject demands, but he has verve and warmth. He is to be congratulated." (Jordan, Ruth, Fromental Halévy: His Life and Music, (New York:1994), pg. 166.
8. Of Deléhelle, Halévy said, "We invite him to show more application to his studies and not indulge a tendency for facile writing which is detrimental to his composition and nips in the bud those good qualities which we recognize in him." (Ibid.) 
9. Charlet had been sick in Rome and sent only a incomplete manuscript. Halévy said of it, "His incomplete work reveals clarity and intelligent understanding of orchestration." (Ibid.)
10. Halévy warned Calibert, "Do not be facile." (Ibid.)
11. Androt arrived in Rome in January 1804 after winning the very first Prix de Rome for music. He caught plague and died in August of the same year. At his funeral a De profundis written by Androt was sung. (Ibid., Pg. 11)
12. Father of Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) Prix de Rome 1913 and sister Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) acclaimed teacher of composition

Indietro alla pagina Materiale vario

Indietro alla Home Page