Asigliano Vercellese is a town surrounded by rice fields just a few kilometers from the city.
Angelo's parents lived in Asigliano when, on November 16, 1941, the beautiful Mrs. Alessandra gave birth to little Angelo in a hospital in Vercelli. And Angelo lived his childhood in Asigliano, immersed in nature, in contact with the sharecroppers and the animals of his father's farm, which was the scene of numerous facts, events, happenings, sometimes dramatic, which left a deep mark on the soul of that child with prodigious mnemonic and learning abilities.
Those experiences, those signs, accompanied Angelo throughout his existence, coloring it with shadows or lights, nostalgia or enchantment that often inspired his compositions, transforming themselves into notes with poignant evocative powers.
Having moved to the city following the tragic death of his father, Angelo was able to find a new home for his emotions, a home that he never wanted to abandon even when the recognition for his talent urged him to move elsewhere.
He loved Vercelli and maintained an intense bond with the places of his childhood, with Asigliano and with all those memories that he never stopped keeping in his heart.
For this reason, the association, thanks to the collaboration of the Municipality of Asigliano, has decided to organize some events that will be hosted in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall.
The inauguration of the painting exhibition dedicated to the works of Angelo's adopted son, Alessandro Nicodemi Gilardino, will be followed by a concert by the duo Alberto Bocchino and Antonello Ghidoni, while two weeks later the exhibition will conclude with a conference by Enrico De Maria and a commemorative ceremony, during which a plaque in memory of Angelo will be placed in the Town Hall, to whom the Municipality had awarded honorary citizenship shortly before his death.
The events, which will be free to attend, will offer the opportunity to remember the passion and bond that Angelo Gilardino has always had for his Asigliano, feelings that have inspired some of his important compositions.
ALESSANDRO GILARDINO NICODEMI
Alessandro Gilardino Nicodemi (Ivrea, 15.09.1974) is a painter who has been involved for many years in a recovery of the Piedmontese pictorial tradition in the light of his personal sensitivity. Adopted son of the famous guitarist and composer Angelo Gilardino, he cultivates his humanistic education alongside the musician, exploring literature, music and the figurative arts in multiple dimensions.
Trained by the Vercelli Master Gastone Cecconello starting in 2004, he soon began to exhibit his works in solo exhibitions including:
. Palazzo della Pretura in Castell’Arquato in 2011
. Castello del Ricetto in Villata in 2012
. Sala d’Arte Comunale in Aosta in 2013
. Salone Dugentesco in Vercelli in 2016.
In 2017 he was awarded the Umberto Ravello prize as a “true artistic talent” by the “Memorial del Folk” association of Vercelli.
Its collectors include prominent figures on the Italian cultural scene, including the director Marco Tullio Giordana and the mayor of Aosta Gianni Nuti.
His works favor an intimate and transfigured reading of the Piedmontese landscape, a place of reflection and dialogue between the artist and a reality that becomes elusive and destined to be grasped within an inexhaustible game of references.
ALBERTO BOCCHINO . ANTONELLO GHIDONI
Students of Maestro Angelo Gilardino, they graduated with full marks and honors from the “GBViotti” Music High School in Vercelli before graduating from the “A. Vivaldi” Conservatory in Alessandria. They studied composition with Maestro Bruno Bettinelli and attended a chamber music course with Maestro Pier Narciso Masi at the “Perosi” Music Academy in Biella. After starting their career as soloists, at the suggestion of their maestro, in 1980 they formed the duo with the purpose of performing pieces from the original literature for two guitars. They have held concerts and master classes in Italy, Europe, the United States and Central America, performing, among others, pieces by composers such as Pierre Wissmer and Vittorio Zago, dedicated to them. In 1981 they were the absolute winners of the first prize at the Concorso Internazionale Città di Stresa, chamber music section. In 1982 they were invited to Vatican Radio where they performed music by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. In 1984, their first LP was published, containing the first volume of “Préludes et Fugues” followed the following year by the publication of the second volume with the praises of Massimo Mila.
Their recording activity continued with the world premiere recording of pieces by 20th century composers, pieces for quartet and sextet by Filippo Gragnani. Their latest recording, the CD “Omaggio a JKMertz”, has achieved international success. For several years the two members have dedicated themselves to different musical activities, in groups and formations of various kinds; among the others, the Trio Hausopera and the ensemble La Scala di Seta stand out.
The opportunity to pay homage to their master among the events organized by the Angelo Gilardino Association was welcomed as a heartfelt and dutiful thanks for all the teachings received.
PROGRAM
JY Daniel-Lesur (1904/2002) . Elegie
G. Puccini (1858/1924). Crisantemi (transcription for two guitars by A. Gilardino)
B. Bettinelli (1913/2004) . Divertimento per due
J. Absil (1893/1974) . Contrastes op. 143 (Cantilène-Humoresque-Pastorale-Burlesque)
ENRICO DE MARIA
Enrico De Maria was born in Vercelli. A freelance journalist, he first worked for La Sesia and Radio City, then, in 1978, he joined the editorial staff of La Stampa di Vercelli, which he subsequently led as head of service until his retirement. He is currently deputy director of the online newspaper TgVercelli. Among the authors of Cronache Leggendarie. Eroi dello Sport Vercellese , he wrote a very personal history of Pro Vercelli La mia Pro dalla B alla Z and contributed to the biography of Cesare Filippone.
The passion, affection, and attention that Enrico De Maria dedicates to Vercelli is known to everyone in the city, both to those who are lucky enough to know him personally, as well as to those who have been reading his passionate articles for decades .
If it is about Pro Vercelli, football in general, cinema, art or culture, his emotional participation is palpable to the point of struggling to find adequate words to express it.
Perhaps fewer people know that at a young age Enrico also cultivated a passion for the classical guitar, and after having toured various barbarities of the city and ended up in the clutches of the maestro Angelo Gilardino. The mutual passion for Cinema was fatal to the guitar hopes of the young Enrico, who soon instead of receiving lessons in technique and musical interpretation began to share impressions, emotions, skills with Angelo Gilardino. Between the two a deep friendship was born that only the death of the great Artist interrupted in its material declination, to transform it into an intimate and indispensable thread that is lost in the infinite.
Enrico De Maria will discuss his friendship and relationship with Angelo Gilardino in the conference that will be held in Asigliano, to remember him, celebrate him and thank him.