Bellafronte: Guitar Works

Italy has always been a land of great composers – from the founding fathers of Baroque music through the era of “Verismo” and the generation of the “Ottanta” to the masters of modern music. Raffaele Bellafronte, born in 1961, is one of those composers who has a voice entirely his own. His music is instantly recognizable, and his style is authentic and honest. It is therefore no wonder that Bellafronte is not already much better known. His music is not a pandering concoction of neo-Romantic clichés and Minimal Music. Nor is it a brittle, formulaic serial “avant-garde.” His music is modern in the best sense, for Bellafronte finds new paths without disavowing the past. In his music, the influences of Casella and Malipiero are naturally audible, yet Bellafronte’s own voice is equally distinct. One can hear that this composer has engaged deeply with his country’s musical heritage, and yet one still hears: Bellafronte. His music is nothing less than great art, and Raffaele Bellafronte is one of the leading compositional figures not only in Italy but in Europe. Several CDs featuring music by Raffaele Bellafronte are already available from the tactus label, and they all demonstrate that Bellafronte is something special, a composer of stature and greatness. This distinctive Italian voice deserves wider recognition, especially since his music also appeals to audiences who might not otherwise be immediately drawn to new music. The new album featuring music by Raffaele Bellafronte reveals the composer’s wealth of ideas. It includes music that pairs the guitar with a wide variety of other instruments: guitar and marimba, guitar and bassoon, guitar and flute, guitar and string quartet. This is certainly worth hearing, for this album combines musical enjoyment with world-class composition.