Lombardy

Last house of  the futurist painter and composer Luigi Russolo (1885-1947).  His cacophonous Intonarumori were notorious.

Villa from 1870, birthplace of Gian-Carlo Menotti *1911 - repeated sojourns from 1928, meanwhile living in the USA. At last sold because the villagers denounced his intimate relation with Samuel Barber.

Frequent stays by Bellini, 1829-33 -- next door: Villa Saltieri, house of Bellini's friend Giuditta Turina-Cantù.

Brahms stayed in 1884 in the then propriety of the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Several lockets of famous guests, among which Verdi.

Villa of the editor Ricordi from 1853 - memorial tablet for Verdi (La Traviata), Ponchielli and Rubinstein as guests

Grave of the Czech composer Ladislav Zavrtal (1849-1942); he lived here from 1907 after a carreer in London as military musician.

Bench and plaque (garden) and portrait (inside) of the cellist and composer Gaetano Braga (1829-1907), a friend of the house. Also visit by Clara Schumann? - Today a centre of German-Italian cooperation.

in the former hotel Genazzini, Franz Liszt stayed with Marie d'Agoult in 1837.

Liszt and d'Agoult stayed here during the winter 1837-38. Their daughter Cosima was born in Como (>) during this stay.

Liszt frequented the magnificent park. Sitting before the Dante monument, he was reading La divina commedia.

Rossini stayed with the family Belgiojoso in 1813, composing Tancredi.

Grave of the singer Giuditta Pasta (1797-1865), also grave of the well known pop singer Milva (= Maria Ilva Biocati, 1939-2021).

Rebuilt Villa Roccabruna, replacement of Villa La Roda of the singer Giuditta Pasta from 1827 until her death - frequent visits by Bellini.  Today luxury resort. Some original annexes are extant.

Built in 1813, 900 seats; opera, ballet, concerts.  Paganini appeared here in 1823, Liszt in 1837.  Plaque of Marco Enrico Bossi (1861-1925), Italy's greatest organ composer after Frescobaldi.

Famous organ by the Serassi brothers from Bergamo, 1808; somewhat modified, II/p/34.

On this spot was the Albergo Dell'Angelo, where Liszt and Marie d'Agoult stayed and their daughter Cosima, the later wife of Wagner, was born on Christmas Eve 1837.

Puccini lived here in 1886 and '87. Birth of his son Antonio, composition of opera Edgar.

established in 1950, collected by Fermo Galbiati - accordeons, phonographs, pianolas and many other curiosities, incl. bicycles

Ambrosian chant (older than Gregorian) practised from 4^th until 20^th century in all churches.

Music flourished under Sforza rule 1450-1535 (Josquin Desprez between 1459 and 1479).

 Spanish rule until 1708. Archbishop Carlo Borromeo was an ardent supporter of music reforms instigated by the Trent Council (ca. 1560).

Gian Paolo Cima and Bagio Marini were active in the 17^th c.

1708-97 + 1815-70 Austrian rule. Leading musician Sammartini taught Gluck 1737-41. The Austrian minister Firmian supported Mozart (four visits 1770-73, operas Mitridate, Ascanio, Lucio Silla).

Ufficio Ricerca Fondi Musicali :  national catalogue of manuscripts and prints, libretti, musician's letters and musical literature from before 1900. Branch of Braidense library, but since 1978 housed in the Conservatory.   >www.urfm.braidense.it

Ambrosian chant - Important composers worked here: Josquin (1459-72), Gafori (1484-1522), J. Christian Bach organist (1760-62). Two organ cases by Antegnati from 1577 (left) and 1583 (right) with 20^th c. interiors.

Built in 1778, after the design of Giuseppe Piermarini, originally capable of holding 3600 spectators, today 2030 seats. One of the most prestigious opera theatres of the world, with countless FPs; also ballet and concerts. - annex a Museo Teatrale (memorabilia, instruments)   --> www.teatroallascala.org

Established in 1863. Verdi died here in 1901 (Verdi suite, photo); Puccini and Giordano stayed here. Venue for the first recording of Caruso in 1902

Pre-eminent music academy;  Vaccai, Ponchielli and Pizzetti were teachers. Rich library and collection of instruments.  Seat of the URFM (> 2200)

Milanese residence of the conductor Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957)

Last house of the composer Umberto Giordani (1867-1948)

This former cinema theatre became a concert hall in 1999. Home of the Symphonic Orchestra and Chorus of Milan

Grave of the composer Giovanni Battista Sammartini (c1700-1775).

Joh. Christian Bach, Sebastian's youngest son, lived in Milan from 1754 until 1762 in the palace of his patron, count Agostino Litta. Today office of the State Railways.

Organ by Gian Giacomo Antegnati, 1557, I/pdp/11. Some parts have been reconstructed.

House of Giuseppe Verdi in 1839 and '40.  Death of his one year old son Icilio and of his first wife Margherita Barezzi. Composition and FP of Un giorno di regno, a fiasco!.  

Plaque of Verdi's first wife Margherita Barezzi (1814-1840)

Established by Verdi. Grave of Verdi and Strepponi; memorial tablet for Verdi's first wife and two children -  outside: Verdi monument

Great collection of musical instruments well diplayed in the Castello Sforzesco. Open air concerts in the courtyard.

Built in 1803 - historic opera theatre (successful FP of Bellini's Somnambula in 1831), now only spoken drama

Built in 1864 - historic opera theatre (Puccini, Mascagni a.o.) - now concert hall 

Mozart stayed here 23.I-15.III.1770 as a guest of the Augustine monks.

FP of Verdi's Requiem in 1874.

House of the composer Arrigo Boito (1842-1918), famous his opera Mefistofele and the librettos of Verdi's Otello and Falstaff.

House of Puccini from 1889 to 1899. Composition of Manon Lescaut and La Bohème completed.Hou

Here stood the house of the composer Alfredo Catalani (1854-1893), from 1886 director of the Conservatorio.

Archivio Storico Ricordi: rich collection of autographs, letters, pictures, scores and other objects. 

Since 2007 haedquarters of Italy's leading music publishing house, Ricordi. It was established in 1808, first seat near the Scala. Today absorbed by the multinational Universal Music Publishing

Graves of the composers Ponchielli, Catalani, Boito, Giordano, the librettst Piave, the conductor Toscanini and the latter's son-in-law, the pianist Horowitz.

House of the greatest Brasilian composer of the 19^th century, Antônio Carlos Gomes (1836-1896), who lived in Italy between 1863 and '83. Now the local music school.

Last house of the composer Amilcare Ponchielli (1834-1886) from 1880 - house in bad condition in 2006, as on photo, but afterwards renovated.

Grave of the singer, poet, journalist and opera librettist Antonio Ghislanzoni (1881-1893). Librettos for operas by Ponchielli, Gomes, Verdi (Aida!) and many others.

House of Antonio Ghislanzoni, visits by many composers.

Ghislanzoni monument.

Organ by Costanzo and Graziado Antegnati, 1588, I/pdp/12.  Spring chest, painted wings.  Foto Orgelsite.

Birthplace of the cellist and composer Alfredo Piatti (1822-1901)

Birthplace of the famous opera composer Gaetano Donizzetti (1797-1848)  

Baptismal church of Donizetti and Piatti  -  (worth seeing vestry!)

Baptismal church of the composer and virtuoso violinist Pietro Antonio Locatelli (1695-1764). Birthplace not known. From 1729 he lived in Amsterdam. 

Merula, Legrenzi and Mayr worked here - graves of Donizetti and Mayr;  memorial tablet for Ponchielli

Donizetti, critically ill, was transfered from Paris to this palace in 1847 and died here in 1848.

Museo Donizettiano, archive of Donizetti and Piatti.

House of the composer Simon Mayr (1763-1845), the teacher of Donizetti.

Origins in the late 18^th century (Teatro Riccardo); 1150 seats; opera, ballet, concert  -  outside Donizetti monument (F. Jerace 1898)

Founded 1805 by Simon Mayr as Lezioni Caritatevoli di Musica, it became the preferred model for the organisation of other music schools in Italy. Pupils included Donizetti, Piatti, Rubini.

House of the Sarassi family (organ builders 1730-1870); remarkable music salon , ca. 1840

The composer Giovanni Legrenzi (1626-1690) was born in Clusone. A plaque was at the town hall from 1884 until the early 1960s, then removed and stored (photos c.1990), since 1999 missing. -  A celebration on the 400th birthday in 2026 is foreseen.

House of the poet and nationalist Clara Maffei;  memorial tablet for Verdi, who visited her in 1847. 

Abundant villa from 1845 of the famous tenor singer Giovanni Battista Rubini (1794-1854) ; exhibition accessible on Sunday mornings

Abundant burial monument of Rubini 

Plaque of the madrigal composer Luca Marenzio (1553-1599), born in Coccáglio.

Marenzio monument, a large pillar crowned by a lyre.

Famous tradition of violin making ('Liuteria Bresciana' by Gasparo da Salò a.o.) and organ making by the Antegnati family, ca. 1480-1650; some members of this family were also composers and instrumentalists.

Organ by Antegnati, 1581, I/pdp/12. Leaden pipes. Graves of Costanzo Antegnati and the Venetian composer and writer Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739) - (outside) plaques for Marcello and Gasparo de Salò.

Collection of instruments, mostly string instruments from Brescia  province, and of bells.

Richly decorated theatre, built in 1664 and 1810 - here glorious revanche for Milan fiasco of Puccini's  Madama Butterfly in 1904; visit 'Butterfly room' and the Museo Teatrale, including a collection of instruments.

Birthplace of Gasparo de Salò (1540-1609), one of the founders of violin making. Plaque promised in the 1990s, not realized.   Gasparo was buried behind the church of San Bernardino.

In the council hall are a nice bust of Gasparo and a memorial tablet for Marco Enrico Bossi (1861-1925), born in Salò and Italy's greatest organ composer after Frescobaldi.

From the 14^th century until 1708 ruled by the Gonzaga family, after that Austrian rule until the 1860s..

Tromboncino  and Marchetto Cara worked ca. 1500 under the enthusiastic patronage of music lover Isabella d'Este. Monteverdi worked at the court between 1589 and 1612.

Local tradition points at two fancied locations from Verdi's Rigoletto (> 2604 and 2619)

Monteverdi worked here from 1589 until 1612, FP of L'Orfeo in 1607.  Nearly faded announcement of his concerts at the entrance of the 'hall of mirrors' (possibly fake).

Study of Isabella - paintings of mensural metric signs and of Prenez sur moi by Ockeghem.

Own tradition of plainchant, different from Gregorian - Musicians working here include de Wert and Gastoldi (maestro di cappella) and Cavazzoni (organist).

 'House of Rigoletto'

Grave of the composer Marchetto Cara, (c 1465-1526).

Built in 1769  by Galli-Bibiena - memorial tablet for Mozart on 16.I.1770, when three of his symphonies were performed

Mozart stayed from 10 to 19 January 1770 in the former inn 'Croce Verde'.

Built 1822, 832 seats. Modest repertoire of opera, ballet and concerts, also cinema theatre (first movie in 1906!).

 'House of Sparafucile' - in fact a 15^th c. fortification ('Rochetta') until 1866.  From 1970 youth hostel, today tourist office.

Birthplace of the composer Ludovico Grossi da Viadana (1560-1627)

Monument of Ludovico Grossi  -  Grossi Collection in the the library.

Memorial tablet of the composer Ludovico Grossi da Viadana (1560-1627), died in Gualtieri (just outside the territory of Lombardia) - His grave is here, but unmarked.

Built in 1590 for Vespasiano Gonzaga as part of an 'Ideal City', after the model of an antique theatre. Later a military hospital and a cinema. Since 1980 various events, incuding concerts.

 Mozart stayed on 19-20 January 1770 in the former Albergo della Posta.

The Mecca of violin making ca. 1530-1780 by the Amati, Guarneri and Bergonzi families and Antonio Stradivari. Revival in the last century with the international school of violin making.

The composer Marc'Antonio Ingegnieri (1547-1592) worked here from the 1570s; his grave has disappeared. His pupil Monteverdi was a chorister.

On the upper floor of the town hall are show-cases with violins by Amati, Stradivari, Guarneri.

In the palazzo from 1496: Scuola Internazionale di Liuteria (School of violin making), Museo organologico-didattico (collection of instruments), Institute of musicology.

House (rebuilt) of the violin maker Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) and his first wife Francesca Ferraboschi from 1667 until 1680. Nearby a bronze sculpture of Stradivari, sitting on a bench.

Museum with emphasis on Stradivari's workshop: tools, parts, models, designs; no ready instruments. Part of the Museo Civico, with other objects refering to the local musical history.

Stradivari monument by Floriana Bondini

Ponchielli monument.  Tomb-stone of Stradivari; his grave was in the church of San Domenico, demolished in 1878 with other neighbouring buildings, including Stradivari's last house.

Self-willed Monteverdi monument by Ercole Priori, 1967. Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) was born in Cremona and lived here until 1591

Baptismal church of Monteverdi.

Opened in 1808, renovate in 1824 after a fire and in 1969. Opera, ballet, concert, ca 1200 seats. It owns two pianos of Ponchielli, who worked here from 1855 to 1872.

Vincenzo Bellini had a long affair with Giuditta Turina, then living in this beautiful palace. Their meetings (1848-53) however were in Milan, the composer didn't visit this palace or composed Norma here, as the plaque mentions.

This tower should have inspired Bellini while composing Norma? - Forget it.

Birthplace of  the composer Annibale Ponchielli (1834-1886)  - Ponchielli museum and archive.

Ponchielli monument at the town hall.

Birthplace of the double bass player and composer Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889).

Monument of Bottesini and plaque of Francesco Cavalli (1602-1676), born in Crema as Pier Francesco Caletti-Bruni but adopted by a Podestà de Cavalli. Museum of local history, including organ making and a bell foundry.

Music and dance school. Inside is a plaque of the theorist and composer Franchino Gafori (Gafurius, 1451-1522), born in Lodi. His Theoricum Opus musice discipline and Practica Musica still are important treatises.

Birthplace of the second wife of Verdi, Giuseppina Strepponi (1815-1897). She also has lived at via G. Strepponi 14.

Mozart and his father stayed here at 18.III.1770.

Built in 1773 as 'Teatro di Quattro Cavalieri' (by Galli-Bibiena), 1869 named after singer G. Fraschini.