The REF, together with the Parco della Musica Contemporanea Ensemble directed by Tonino Battista, celebrates the 70th birthday of composer Giorgio Battistelli with an exclusive performance of his famous L’imbalsamatore – Monodramma giocoso da camera. Massimo Popolizio directs and interprets Batistelli’s ferocious monologue for the occasion, in which the protagonist Miscin – who is in charge of the periodic ‘restyling’ of Lenin’s body in the Red Square mausoleum – tries to restore a human appearance to his boss thanks to a new drug that should give the body elasticity and softness. The accompanying chamber ensemble sarcastically comments on his movements between table, hand basin, corpse, vodka bottles and steaming distillery. One of the most important contemporary composers in Italy and the world, Battistelli founded the Edgar Varèse improvisation group and the Beat 72 instrumental group in 1972. He has been artistic director of some of the most important national institutions, including the Orchestra di Toscana, the Accademia Filarmonica di Roma, the Biennale Musica di Venezia, the Fondazione Arena di Verona, the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and from 2021 the Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e Trento.
Credits
Contributing director: Paola Rota
Video edited by: Lorenzo Letizia
