«At first, his musical thought could be traced back to the expressionism of Schönberg and the mastery of Berg. Actually, what is here perceptible is the mighty shadow of J. S. Bach» (Flavio Emilio Scogna on Gradus ad responsum for piano).[4]
Di Gesu's approach to composition (alien to fashionable currents,[5] and based on a distinctly atonal harmonic idiom[4]) focuses on the symbols hidden in the syntax of sounds.[2][6]
His compositional technique enables the construction of melodic, harmonic, and contrapuntal structures[7] forming a narrative arc of such discursive power that Quirino Principe described his music as "strong... indeed, among the strongest" (review of the world premiere of Verdigo for string quartet at La Scala Theatre - Sole 24 Ore).[4][6]
Di Gesu's language is characterised by the search for a perceptible attraction (according to what he himself refers to as the "principle of necessity"[7]) linking the elements of the musical narrative:[3][5] this is considered the ineludible condition for said narrative's vitality, i.e. significance.[7]
Partnerships and collaborations
Di Gesu's debut at La Scala Theatre took place in May 2013, when La Scala String Quartet premiered his Verdigo,[8][9][10] a work which the ensemble had commissioned on the occasion of the bicentennial of Giuseppe Verdi's birth. La Scala String Quartet had already played Di Gesu's works such as Ansikte mot ansikte (for Serate Musicali - Milano, and Ente Concerti Pesaro[11]) and WOLFiliGrANG (at the Rovereto Mozart Festival[12]).
In 2014 the Teatro La Fenice (Venice) commissioned from him Luci d'estate which was premiered by the Ex Novo Ensemble in July of the same year.[13][14]
Poems by Di Gesu, such as La vita è un sogno[19] and Al giardino,[20] have been recited by Maria Brivio and Federika Brivio within the radio broadcast, Diamo l’Abbrivio.[21]
Computer-based drawings of his appear on the cover of the CD “PianOLYPHONY”[15] recorded by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni (Foxglove Audio - FOX091), and in the score of Geometria di un diletto (edition db).[3][5][4]
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