BELLAFRONTE Raffaele

Raffaele Bellafronte (b. 1961, Italy) studied piano with Lucia Passaglia, composition and analysis with Firmino Sifonia, Giampaolo Chiti and Fulvio Delli Pizzi. After many years of research and experimentation in the recording studios, Bellafronte’s work has progressed from a model whereby ideas are expressed, achieved, proposed in their final definitive mode via audio supports to one wherein the composer re-traces and re-elaborates the compositional strategies of previous centuries into new and exciting music. Much of his work has been published with Bèrben, Bongiovanni, Curci, Carisch, RAI Com, Les Productions d’OZ (Canada) DaVinci Edition (Japan). Much of his work continues to cross national borders; is indeed performed at many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and theaters: Oasi alla Mente was commissioned by and premiered at New York’s Carnegie Hall in October 1996; other major venues include Vienna’s Konzerthaus with the world premiere of Il Labirinto dell’Anima, (or Labyrinth of the Soul), for piccolo and orchestra, in 2003; Afrika, for trumpet and piano, premiered in Denver (Colorado) at the World Trumpet Convention in 2004; San Diego and the World Flute Convention, 2005 saw the premiere of The Crazy Acrobat for piccolo and piano; Frammenti d’Ombra e Luci, (Fragments of Shadow and Light), for solo clarinet, was first performed at Tokyo’s World Clarinet Convention in 2005; at Flautissimo in Rome’s Parco della Musica, Arakathalama premiered for clarinet, guitar, bandoneon and doublebass, and Bellafronte’s Ave Maria for soprano and orchestra was performed before the Italian Government at its traditional Christmas concert, 2005; the world premiere of Zeit, a new concerto for bassoon and orchestra, was performed in Vienna, April 22, 2009, during the official season of the Musikverein. Of his recordings, for Bongiovanni, Raffaele Bellafronte recorded two monographic CDs (GB 5049-2/GB 5081-2). Suite No. 1 for cello and guitar was recorded for the label DELOS Hollywood International (DE 3324) while Afrika, for trumpet and piano, was released by the American label, Summit Records. For Rai trade and Ducale he recorded Icaro (RTC 008), and Arakathalama, a CD of chamber music was released by Stradivarius. For Tactus he has recorded the last two record works: the first registered to Conzerthaus Vienna dedicated to the music for orchestra (TC 960202) and the second devoted entirely to the guitar (TC 960203). Besides composing, Raffaele has been directing various venues. From 1990 to 1996 Bellafronte was artistic director of the City of Vasto’s Masterclass Series. Artistic Director of the Seminari Musicali Internazionali in Vasto, Italy, since 1999, he is also artistic director of Teatro Rossetti, Vasto’s municipal concert venue, and the Civic Music School, since 2007. He has taught in several Italian Conservatories and today he teaches at the Conservatory of Campobasso. On April 7, 2014 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan it was performed Midnight plays for clarinet, cello and piano. January 30, 2015 he returned at Carnegie Hall in New York with Tarantella for guitar performed in American premiere. On November 6, 2016 he returned at the Musikverein in Vienna with the world premiere of Suite No. 2 for bassoon, guitar and string orchestra. His works and publications are available through most major music catalogues worldwide.

In 2017 he received the prestigious Golden Guitar Award for the composition from the 22^th

International Guitar Convention in Alessandria (Italy), on the occasion of the 50^th edition of the

International Guitar Competition Michele Pittaluga.

On April 9, 2018 he returned at Teatro alla Scala in Milan with the world premiere of In Search of Dance for string quartet.

www.raffaelebellafronte.it