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Biography
Enrico Garzilli is an internationally acclaimed composer, pianist, organist, educator, and scholar. His works have been performed at the Providence Performing Arts and Veterans Auditorium in Providence, RI, and in New York City and have been recorded on EMI/Virgin and First Night Records. Dr. Garzilli holds advanced degrees in Philosophy, Theology and Literature and was the first person to receive a doctorate from Brown University in Comparative Literature. His dissertation, nominated for many national awards, was published by Harvard University, as CIRCLES WITHOUT CENTER. Paths to the Discovery and Creation of Self in Modern Literature.
Early Life
Performance. At the age of fifteen, Enrico gave his first solo piano concert at the
Music Mansion in Providence, RI. [2] This was followed by many other concerts with a major piano recital at seventeen. As a teenager he also performed regularly on television and radio.
Choral Conducting. In his teens he became the assistant organist and studied organ and choral conducting with Dr. Alexander Peloquin at the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul in Providence, RI. [3]
Rome. While in college in Rome, he studied choral conducting and organ with Prof. Martorell and Dom Barrata. He gave many organ recitals in the church of Santa Susanna in Rome. He also played in St. Peter's, Rome, and in all the major Basilicas of the city. As choral conductor, he conducted the North American College Choir in the same hallowed places. When he gave his audition at the Pontifical Music School, Professor Carducci hailed him as the finest pianist to enter the portals of the Academy in the twenty-two years that he was there. He later became his tutor in counterpoint, composition, and the study of Renaissance choral music. [4] In both college and graduate school, Enrico Garzilli was the head organist and choral director.
Stage Productions
Dr. Garzilli is a composer of four large musical-dramatic works.
RAGE OF THE HEART Rage of the Heart takes place in 12th century Paris and is based on a true story. The plot centers around the love relationship between Abelard and Heloise. Abelard, poet, philosopher, singer, and teacher, is the most famous man of his age. Because his thinking and teaching are ahead of his time, he inevitably runs into trouble with the political/religious authorities of the day. Heloise is his gifted young student. Together, they face incredible obstacles and conflicts. Through it all, their love grows into a magnificent testimony of transcendent human love. Rage of the Heart dramatizes and sings of the extraordinary heights that the human heart and mind can reach. It is filled with melodies to die for.
MICHELANGELO Michelangelo is a coming of age story of the great artist. In spite of his father's strong determination that his son become a banker, Michelangelo insists that he wants to become an artist, a sculptor. Even the formidable Savonarola can't convince Michelangelo that art is worthless and that he should give it up. Instead, he completely commits himself to mastering every goal on his "artistic" journey. He sculpts the great Pieta at twenty-one, David at twenty-seven, and paints the Sistine Ceiling in his early thirties. The musical celebrates how Michelangelo transcends countless conflicts, challenges, and obstacles to become one of the world's greatest artists. [5]
THE SMART SET (aka SAVE ME THE WALTZ ) The setting is the Riviera. The time is the 1920's. A group of ex-patriots gather at the home of the Murphys who are great patrons of the arts. The group includes Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Zelda, Picasso, Cole Porter and Stravinsky. Based on a true story, Fitzgerald and Zelda visit the Murphys while Fitzgerald begins a new novel, Tender is the Night. At one of the many parties that the Murphys host is Edouard, a French aviator. A love triangle ensues with Zelda feeling trapped by her love for Fitzgerald and her infatuation for Edouard. Scott and Zelda's love for each other triumphs over this "test", but not without tremendous cost. The vocal trio between Scott, Zelda and the French aviator, "Fly Away with me Tonight" ..."was like something out of a Verdi opera". [6] The musical captures and celebrates the joyous "come what may" ethos of the twenties.
SHADOW OF THE WALL This musical play takes place in Berlin 1988-1989 just before the fall of the Berlin Wall. A group of students often gather in a coffee shop in East Berlin where Karl and Judy are the featured entertainers. On rare occasions a performer from West Berlin comes to entertain. Jon a magician from the West is one such entertainer. So it happens Jon and another performer, Katrina, an East Berliner, fall in love. Since they do not want to live apart, Jon comes up with a blueprint for Katrina to escape. Katrina works in an orphanage where there are many ill children. She believes she can help them from the West, secretly sending them medicine and aid. What they don't know, is that the secret police, the Stasi, are listening in to all that occurs in the club. The decision to mount the Wall is finalized with the musical dramatizing the idealism and courage that the oppressed need to survive and prevail.
Spiritual Music
Enrico Garzilli has composed a number of choral works for liturgy, as well as oratorios and instrumental pieces with religious themes. His Romans VIII has been translated into many languages and sung around the world, including communist Russia.
Romans VIII, for choir, congregation and keyboard
I Believe That My Redeemer Lives, for choir or solo and keyboard
John XV, for choir, congregation and keyboard
Meditation Psalm (To Be Near God), for solo, duet, choir and keyboard
Psalm 23, for Soprano or Baritone Solo, piano and flute
Love Is The Answer, Hymn for SATB choir or congregation
Our God is Speaking Still, Hymn for SATB choir or congregation
Prayer For Mothers, Hymn for SATB choir or congregation
Eternal Life, Oratorio, for SATB chorus and keyboard
Creator Spirit, Anthem for SATB chorus and organ
Teach Me To Love, Anthem for choir or solo with keyboard
The Beatitudes, for solo or congregation
Doxology, for congregation or choir with organ or keyboard
The Great Amen, for congregation and choir with organ or keyboard
Lord, Bring Us Back, for choir, congregation with flute and keyboard
The Peacedale Introit, for SATB choir and congregation with brass
The Symphony, for organ (inspiration from Luke 1:36-38)
Recordings
Virgin
First Night
EMI
Literature, Drama and Poetry
CIRCLES WITHOUT CENTER (1973) Paths to the Discovery and Creation of Self in Modern Literature. [1]
ASHEN VICTORS (1977) Dramatic monologues inspired by the sonnets of Vittoria Colonna and Michelangelo. [7]
THE GOLD SHOP (1985) Drama Playrights, Brown University, Providence, RI.[8]
Performances
Premier of Brubeck's concert Mass. One of his many memorable concerts was his
performance with Dave Brubeck in the premier of Brubeck's concert Mass.
As Artist in Residence at Johnson and Wales University, Providence, RI, He
performed three of his compositions with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, famed
Broadway star, Mark McVey, and Metropolitan Opera Soprano Elizabeth Blanke-Biggs.
Rage of the Heart, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Providence, RI in 1997. [9]
Michelangelo, Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI in 2007. [10]
Awards
The University of Rhode Island Island Alumni Award for Achievement in the Arts at the Winter Homecoming in 2004.
The Enrico Caruso Award, presented by Opera Providence in 2008.
Teaching
Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy
The University of St. Thomas Aquinas (The Angelicum) Rome, Italy
English and Western Civilization: Providence College, Providence Rhode Island
Shakespeare and Classical Drama: University of Rhode Island
Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island
Productions
Click company name to view productions details.
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Artist Information
All information is derived from OPERA America's Season Schedule of Performances and titles databases which date back to 1991. OPERA America is constantly updating this data. If you feel that a work or an artist has been omitted or that information is incorrect, please use the linked forms below. Title Information Form Artist Information Form
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