Composer of the Month 1/2011: Amilcare Ponchielli   (selected by Peter van Dessel / Belgium)

Italy 8.3.1986 The Italian composer and music teacher Amilcare Ponchielli was born in Paderno Fasolaro near Cremona on 31 August 1834. After studying at the Milan Conservatory, he worked from 1854 as organist and theater conductor in Cremona. From 1861 to 1874, he led in the Banda della Guardia Nazionale Piacenza, a wind band, for which he wrote more than 150 works. 1881 Ponchielli became Director of Music of the Cathedral in Bergamo and from 1883 he was professor of composition at the Milan Conservatory. Among his pupils were Giacomo Puccini and Pietro Mascagni. Amilcare Ponchielli composed 14 operas, four ballets, and numerous vocal and orchestral works. Best known is Ponchielli by his opera "La Gioconda". The ballet from the 3rd act of this opera is one of the most famous pieces of classical music repertoire. Amilcare Ponchielli died in Milan on 16 January 1886. January 2011 marks his 125th death anniversary. The video shows pupils of the Indianapolis School of Ballett performing the "Dance of the Hours" from Amilcare Ponchielli's opera "La Gioconda". More composers in the members only section