Elisabetta Olga Laura Brusa, born on April 3, 1954, is an esteemed Italian/British composer whose musical journey began in Milan. During her childhood, she displayed a remarkable early talent by composing 32 piano pieces. She later honed her compositional skills at the Milan Conservatory under the tutelage of renowned instructors such as Bruno Bettinelli and Azio Corghi. Graduating in 1980, she went on to teach composition at several prestigious conservatories in Italy, including Vicenza, Mantova, and Brescia, before joining the faculty at the Conservatorio of Milan in 1985. Brusa’s commitment to her craft led her to seek additional guidance from distinguished figures like Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Hans Keller. Her recognition on the Young Italian Composers RAI 3 television program in 1983 marked an early acknowledgment of her burgeoning talent.
Brusa’s achievements include winning the first prize at the Washington International Competition for Composition for String Quartet in 1982. Subsequently, she earned the Fromm Music Foundation Fellowship, a Fellowship from the U.S.-Italy Fulbright Commission, and three Fellowships from the MacDowell Colony. In 1997, she married the conductor Gilberto Serembe. Brusa has become best known for her orchestral compositions, with five volumes recorded on the Naxos Records label. Her works, often inspired by literature and art, include two symphonies, a requiem, a Stabat Mater, and various tone poems such as “Florestan” and “Messidor.” Brusa describes her musical style as “close to Neo-Tonality and in particular to Neo-Romanticism,” with her harmony characterized as “essentially pandiatonic with panchromatic moments.” Her significant contributions have solidified her place within the landscape of contemporary classical music.
Her composition, “Fables,” serves as a testament to her ability to weave compelling narratives through contemporary musical language. In the broader context of contemporary composition, Elisabetta Brusa’s “Fables” adds to the repertoire of modern classical works, providing audiences with a glimpse into the imaginative and innovative landscape of her musical storytelling. As a woman composer contributing to the contemporary classical scene, Brusa’s work reflects a commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new frontiers in musical expression.
Composer biography:
https://www.aso.org/artists/detail/elisabetta-brusa
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