NICOLA PIOVANI.
Rome, 1946 Composer, conductor and pianist.
He has created the soundtrack for more than 150 films, including several by Fellini.
In 1998 he won the Oscar for the score of
Life is Beautiful
, the film by Roberto Benigni.
His autobiography, as well as the show he has just presented at the Italian Institute in Madrid, is entitled 'Music is dangerous'. What is dangerous about music? It is a phrase by Federico Fellini, which in this way alluded to the joyful danger of strong emotions, those that music can give, and that make you tremble, for which it is worth living. Victor Hugo used to say that "what cannot be said and what cannot be silenced, music expresses." Is that statement still valid today? Today more than ever that statement is a powerful statement: it could not be said better than with the words of Victor Hugo. Although the initiative has subsequently been withdrawn, members of the Islamic State recently announced their intention to ban girls 12 and older from singing in public. What do you think? Besides being dangerous in the Fellinian sense, can music be subversive? The shameful initiatives of some Islamic states show us how music can effectively have subversive value: repressive states prohibit women from music in the same way that they prohibit eroticism. Eros and music are lofty, noble and free activities, and tyrannical states cannot bear the freedom of their subjects. The European fascist regimes of the last century for example banned jazz music. The great Nino Rota, composer of some very famous soundtracks such as that of 'The Godfather', used to say: "I don't write music for the cinema, I solve cinematographic problems through music." What exactly did he mean? He meant that when a musician finds himself in front of a film to which he must put music, it is not enough for him to think of a "beautiful" music: beauty is not the first thing that is asked of the music of a film, that music must To be above all congruent, the musician who works in the cinema must be largely a filmmaker. Tell me then, what is the recipe for writing a good soundtrack? Pay attention first and foremost to the film, to the story, to the montage. And then, from all that, create music that resembles the movie. And if possible, beautiful, of course. Can a bad soundtrack destroy a movie? Of course it can. It has even happened in films with great musicians, with great directors, with beautiful scores. The music and the images were excellent in themselves but, as they say in Rome, they "punched each other", damaging the outcome of the film. You won the 1998 Oscar for the best original soundtrack for the score of 'Life is beautiful', the film by Roberto Benigni. How did that music come about? I was inspired by the script and, above all, by the wonderful oral narration that Benigni wrote for me. Do you consider it to be your best soundtrack? I don't know how to tell him. Benigni, for example, really likes the music of the film
Pinocchio
.
What is the most difficult thing in the relationship between a musician and a film director?
To understand each other beyond words, to share artistic and musical emotions, to understand each other a little while reasoning and a little while on the go.
You worked with the great Federico Fellini composing the soundtrack for three of his films, including that of the famous 'The Interview'.
What was your relationship like?
I have worked for eleven years at his side, in three films, in some spots and also in the project of a film that later he did not have the time to make.
With Fellini, artistic and personal closeness were mixed.
In business meetings, less than half the time was spent on work.
We talked about everything, about art, about friends, about politics ... And then at lunches, at dinners, we would find ourselves talking about work, editing, music.
He really liked long talks on the phone.
Apart from Fellini, what other film directors have marked your career? Many, and I would not want to forget to mention a few.
But, naturally beyond Federico Fellini, it is easy to imagine that personalities like Bellocchio, Moretti, Monicelli, the Taviani brothers, Maria Luisa Bemberg or Tornatore leave an important mark on your life.
And I have a particularly fond memory of my friend Bigas Luna: he introduced me to Iberian culture, including the wonderful cuisine of his country.
You are a great defender of musical theater, you have said on occasion that it is "the most fascinating form of artistic activity that exists."
What is special about musical theater?
It is the art form that unites music, images, words and song in a very powerful synthesis.
Provided, of course, that it is represented "live", and not in video reproductions that we can describe as "dead" New technologies are undoubtedly changing the way of listening to music.
Also to create it?
We have new means of sound production that increase the palette available to musicians.
They facilitate access to music creation and, unfortunately, also access for fans of composition.
New tools, like old ones, if they are in the hands of an artist are precious mines, but it often happens that they are in the hands of people who have nothing to say but want to say it anyway.
Today music is everywhere: in the supermarket, at the airport, in the restaurant, in the shopping center.
What do you think?
Music everywhere is one of the most unpleasant aspects of our consumer civilization.
For years I have publicly expressed myself against this uncivil use of music.
But, of course, without getting any results in this regard.
It is another of the many lost battles that happen to you in life.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
Final interview
culture
music
movies
The final interview Miguel Rivera, singer of Maga: "The rivalry between music bands is outdated"
The final interview Teo Cardalda: "Albariño and spider crabs are a great 'vaccine' against the coronavirus"
The final interview Samantha: "It is absolutely true that in Operación Triunfo we all hook up with everyone"
See links of interest
Work calendar
Milan - Sampdoria
Chelsea - West Bromwich Albion
Granada CF - Villarreal
Real Madrid - Eibar
2020 Cup final, live: Athletic - Real Sociedad