by Lucrezia Liberati
When research and discovery intertwine with the preparation and passion of performers like Marina Comparato and Gianni Fabbrini, recording projects are born that give voice to music that has been forgotten for too long. Some of the lieder works of composer Luigi Gordigiani, previously entirely unreleased, will be released in December 2025 by the Dynamic label and premiered at the Cremona Musica International Exhibitions and Festival 2025. In anticipation of the recital titled In riva all’Arno – Luigi Gordigiani, lo Schubert italiano, we met mezzo-soprano Marina Comparato, a Florentine by adoption who has been on stage since 1996, when she made her London debut as Rosina in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville.
I lieder per pianoforte e voce si caratterizzano per il loro aspetto fortemente evocativo. In quali luoghi ci porta questo recital?
In conceiving this program, we imagined ourselves in a mid-nineteenth-century Florentine salon, where artists gathered to present the latest musical developments. It was customary, in fact, to participate in listening to contemporary works, an opportunity for exchange and discussion: thus we find ourselves in Florence, immersed in the melodies of Gordigiani and Franz Schubert’s Lieder, performed in Italian translation.
Why compare Luigi Gordigiani to Franz Schubert?
Gordigiani was called the Italian Schubert for his role as a composer of salon romances. This title, likely established shortly after his death, has been revived over the years and applied to other composers of lieder for voice and piano. A truly interesting aspect lies in the themes he proposes and the treatment of piano textures, often explicitly inspired by Schubert’s poetics. Consider, for example, the celebrated accompaniment to the lieder “Erlkoenig” (Erkönig). with repeated octave triplets. These are also taken up by Gordigiani: a quote that, respectfully, seeks to revisit the European tradition of liede, adapting it to the typically Italian melodic, vocal, and lyrical taste.
What makes this project special?
Gianni Fabbrini is the mentor, pianist, and maestro who has always accompanied me in preparing for the most important roles of my life, starting with my debut as Rosina in The Barber of Seville. Thirty years of collaboration have allowed us to explore new music in harmony and mutual confidence. When he asked me to study this repertoire, I immediately accepted. To crown this project, and thanks to the support of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, we will release a CD entitled Luigi Gordigiani – Romantic Florence, Songs for voice and piano. We couldn’t be happier!
