Una cattedrale della musica

Defined as a “cathedral of music, a unique work” by Luciano Berio, the Archivio Storico Ricordi is the largest private music archive in Italy: a priceless collection of Italian and European music history - and, in particular, works from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries - and which also includes pieces from the theatre, fashion and graphic art.

This book, divided into three parts, is dedicated to the Archive and it opens with the story of the Ricordi publishing house: it retraces its main steps, exploring the personalities who have led it over the years since its founding in 1808 to its affirmation as an international point of reference for music publishing.

The second section explores the Archive itself and the documents it contains: thousands of scores, photographs, prints, drawings, posters and letters which together constitute a testimony to understanding the operatic genre as an aesthetic and socio-cultural phenomenon.

Finally, the Appendix provides the reader with an overview of the archive collections and an index of names to facilitate consultation.

Alternating images and text, Una cattedrale della musica opens the doors of the Archivio Ricordi to the reader, an exceptional example of research and analysis in the field of music and beyond.