Life
His training took place within the complex climate of the Fin de siècle, where Realism and Decadentism coexisted, while his maturity as an editor and composer was expressed in the early 20th century, an era marked by the coexistence of Symbolist and Decadent aesthetics and the disruption of avant-garde movements like Futurism.
Born in Naples in 1869 into a family of music publishers, Carlo Clausetti studied law and attended the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory, graduating in piano and composition. In 1892 he succeeded his father in directing the Naples branch of Ricordi, starting a career that would make him a prominent figure in Italian music publishing.
He collaborated with Giuseppe Martucci and promoted Wagnerian music through concert societies. In 1912 he was called to Milan as artistic director of Casa Ricordi, and in 1919 he took the lead alongside Renzo Valcarenghi. In this role, he stood out for his attention to musical theater, developing stagings and stage directions for operas by Zandonai, Pizzetti, and Montemezzi.
A close friend of Giacomo Puccini, he often accompanied him to the premieres and stagings of his operas, substituting for him when the composer could not be present. He remained by his side until Puccini's death in Brussels in 1924. Simultaneously, he cultivated a passion for Neapolitan song, composing famous romanzas and promoting collective collections with the greatest authors of the time.
Under his direction, Ricordi resumed the publication of music journals with Musica d’Oggi. He left the leadership of the publishing house in 1940 and retired to Fano, where he died in 1943.
Aneddoto
Puccini's nickname
Puccini affectionately called him “Clausetto” and wanted him to be the one to oversee his operas when he could not attend in person.Works
He composed Neapolitan songs such as Africanella (1894) on verses by Roberto Bracco and Quanno passa ’o riggimento (1895) on words by Ferdinando Russo. He transcribed Funiculì Funiculà and other famous romanzas for piano, and wrote stage directions for operas by Zandonai, Pizzetti, and Montemezzi.
Briciole di storia
Italy Abolishes the Death Penalty, a Milestone of Civilization
On June 30, 1889, Italy took a historic step of great significance. With the approval of the new penal code, promoted by Minister of Justice Giuseppe Zanardelli, the Kingdom of Italy became one of the first states in the world to completely abolish the death penalty for all crimes. The decision, influenced by the Enlightenment ideas of Cesare Beccaria, was the result of a long and heated parliamentary debate. In a Europe where the guillotine and the gallows were still in use, Italy placed itself at the forefront of human rights, affirming the principle that the State should not stain itself with the same crime it intended to punish.
Pubblico dominio (Commons)
