Biography

Gian Carlo Menotti

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Gian Carlo Menotti was born on July 7, 1911 in Cadegliano-Viconago, Lombardy, Italy. He was a writer and composer, known for The Medium (1951), Great Performances (1971) and Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951). He was married to Samuel Barber. He died on February 1, 2007 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Has a burial plot next to lifelong friend and romantic partner Samuel Barber. Since he has little savings and lives on royalties of his operas, Barber put in his burial provisions that a marker acknowledging him be put there even if he has no money for his body to be moved.
Shared a home in Westchester, New York, with Samuel Barber for many years.
The New York Times referred to him as the most-performed opera composer in the United States.
Founded arts festivals in three countries: the Festival of Two Worlds held in Spoleto in his native Italy; Spoleto USA in Charleston, SC; and another in Melbourne, Australia, which helped several renowned performers get their start, among them Shirley Verrett, Patrice Chéreau, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp. Called the most performed opera composer in the US by The New York Times, several of his English-language operas were extremely popular in the US.
Left the Spoleto Music Festival USA in 1993, after disagreements with the festival board over artistic and financial direction and control.

[2001, interview in New York Times] Fate has blessed me. But if there's one thing I regret, it's this accursed festival. It's robbed too much of my time from composition and from the chance to just be curious about life, art and philosophy. Suddenly there's no time left, and it makes me feel desperate.
[in 1981, interview on the Spoleto Music Festival] I started Spoleto because I did not want to be the marginal person, the entertainer. I wanted to have a community, to be part of a community.
[about the Spoleto Music Festival] I needed to feel that I was needed. Thirty years ago, Spoleto was on the verge of bankruptcy. Now it's a flourishing town that owes its life to the festival.
[1981 interview about the Spoleto Music Festival] I feel like the sorcerer's apprentice I've started something and I don't know how to stop it.

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