Mastrogiovanni, Antonio (1936–)

Antonio Mastrogiovanni (b. 26 July 1936), Uruguayan composer. Born in Montevideo, Mastrogiovanni began musical studies with Nieves Varacchi and Héctor Tosar. He studied composition under Carlos Estrada at the National Conservatory of Music (1963–1968), and was technical director of the music-publishing project at the conservatory. His Monotemáticas for violin and piano was well received at its premiere during the Second Latin American Festival of Montevideo (1966). He was awarded several prizes by the SODRE, the Association of Music Students, and the National Conservatory, and was honored by the Uruguayan Ministry of Culture (1960, 1961, 1963). Sinfonía de Cámara for orchestra (1965) and the piano concerto (1967) belong to that period. With Contrarritmos (1967), for two string orchestras and percussion, Mastrogiovanni shifted toward new composition techniques, in recognition of which he received a scholarship at the Latin American Center of Advanced Music Studies of the Di Tella Institute in Buenos Aires, where from 1969 to 1970 he studied under Gerardo Gandini (analysis), Francisco Kröpfl (composition), and von Reichenbach (electronic music). He received grants from the Organization of American States that enabled him to travel to Rome and Mexico to explore new composition techniques. His Reflejos and Secuencial I both won the Dutch Gaudeamus Foundation Prize (1970; 1971) and were premiered by theUtrech Symphony Orchestra. Other works of his include Secuencial II for tape (1970) and Maderas for ensemble (1974).

Since 1971, Mastrogiovanni's works have premiered throughout South America and Europe and have earned the composer awards both at home and abroad. He has taught at several prestigious institutions, including the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Montevideo (1972–1973), the Conservatorio Nacional Juan José Landaeta in Caracas (1979–1988), and Montevideo's Escuela Universitaria de Música (1986–1993), where he also has served as director since 1988. In addition to composing commissioned works and conducting vocal and instrumental ensembles in Venezuela and Uruguay, he founded and organized an annual competition for advanced music students in Montevideo.

See alsoMusic: Art Music; Musical Instruments.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

John Vinton, ed., Dictionary of Contemporary Music (1974); New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1980).

Susana Salgado, Breve historia de la música culta en el Uruguay, 2d ed. (1980).

Additional Bibliography

Amarilla Capi, Mirta. La música en el Uruguay. Montevideo: M. Amarilla Capi, 1983–2000.

Salgado, Susana. The Teatro Solís: 150 Years of Opera, Concert and Ballet in Montevideo. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2003.

                                       Susana Salgado