Alle vittime senza nome

for orchestra

Commissioned by Associazione Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, Milano,
Orchestra Dell´Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma, Orchestra Nazionale della RAI,Torino,
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence

Description

First performance: 8 May 2017, Milano, Italy
Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala
Conductor: Peter Eötvös

 

Alle vittime senza nome (To the Nameless Victims) is dedicated to the African and Middle Eastern refugees fleeing from war and persecution. In 2015, Eötvös saw pictures in the news of desperate people and families dressed in rags drifting for days on the waves of the Mediterranean. The work is in three movements and the varied phases illustrate the unpredictable journey by sea.

On completing the piece, Eötvös noticed that its rhythmic and thematic dramaturgy would also lend itself to a choreography. It could thus be the first “Danced Requiem” in the history of music, but that would point too strongly to the Roman Catholic tradition. He prefers a title that embraces all ethnic origins and religions. Eötvös conducted the premiere by the La Scala Symphony Orchestra in 2017.

 

“Italians call my orchestral work a requiem. For Europeans, a requiem is a mass of mourning, but I am reticent to call it by this name because I have written the composition for the people of other cultures. For this reason, I decided on the title “To the nameless victims”. My work has been created in memory of the numerous Arabic and African individuals who unwittingly climbed into overcrowded boats in the hope of arriving in a happier world and sank in the open sea before even reaching the Italian coast.

While working on this composition, I observed the poignant images: not only the faces of individuals, but also the incredibly dense mass of people crowded together on these vessels. The images are transformed in the composition into tender melodies played on solo instruments and dense masses of sound performed by the whole orchestra.

When I sat in front of the finished score, I had the impression that the rhythmic structure and thematic drama of the work would be suitable to be choreographed and would perhaps become the first “danced requiem” in music history.”

/Peter Eötvös – 2016/

Performances

24 Oct, 2022
Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Tellabor: Requiem
Dance adaptation
Director: Noémi Kulcsár, Tellabor
Dramaturge: Dávid Cseh
more info >



17 Feb, 2020
Barcelona, Spain

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
L'Auditori

16 Feb, 2020
Barcelona, Spain

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
L'Auditori

15 Feb, 2020
Barcelona, Spain

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
L'Auditori

9 Nov, 2019
Palermo, Italy

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome/ Per Luciano Berio

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome (2016)
Eötvös: Per Luciano Berio
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Teatro Massimo Orchestra and Chorus

24 Oct, 2019
Helsinki, Finland

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome, DoReMi

Leticia Morano, violin
Helsingin Kaupunginorkesteri

Conductor: Peter Eötvös

24 Oct, 2019
Helsinki, Finland

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome, DoReMi violin concerto

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome
Eötvös: DoReMi violin concerto No. 2
Debussy: Tarantelle styrienne
Kodály: Háry János suite

Leticia Moreno, violin
Cond: Peter Eötvös

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

 

 

23 Oct, 2019
Helsinki, Finland

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome, DoReMi violin concerto

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome
Eötvös: DoReMi violin concerto No. 2
Debussy: Tarantelle styrienne
Kodály: Háry János suite

Leticia Moreno, violin
Cond: Peter Eötvös

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

 

 

 

10 May, 2019
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Cond.: Peter Eötvös
Concertgebouw Orchestra

9 May, 2019
Cologne, Germany

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violine
Sol Gabetta, violoncello
Konigliches Concertgebouworchester Amsterdam
Conductor: Peter Eötvös

9 May, 2019
Cologne, Germany

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Cond. Peter Eötvös
Concertgebouw Orchestra

8 Mar, 2019
Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Gliding of the eagle in the skies, Alle vittime senza nome, Halleluja - oratorium

Cond: Peter Eötvös
Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra
Hungarian Radio Choir
Müpa

7 Mar, 2019
Pécs, Hungary

Eötvös: Gliding of the eagle in the sky, Alle vittime senza nome, Halleluja oratorium

Cond.: Peter Eötvös
Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra
Hungarian Radio Choir

17 Feb, 2019
Barcelona, Spain

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Conductor: Rafael Payare
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
L'Auditori

16 Feb, 2019
Barcelona, Spain

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Conductor: Rafael Payare
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
L'Auditori

15 Feb, 2019
Barcelona, Spain

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Conductor: Rafael Payare
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
L'Auditori

1 Feb, 2019
Antwerpen, Belgium

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome, Gliding of the eagle in the skies

Debussy: Prelude l´apres-midi d´un faune
Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome
Eötvös: Gliding of the eagle in the skies
Bartók: Concerto for orchestra

Cond: Peter Eötvös
Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra

25 Jan, 2019
Gothenburg, Sweden

Eötvös: Gliding of the eagle in the skies, Cello concerto grosso, Alle vittime senza nome

Cond.: Peter Eötvös
Gothenburg Orchestra

24 Jan, 2019
Gothenburg, Sweden

Eötvös: Gliding of the eagle in the skies, Cello concerto grosso, Alle vittime senza nome

Cond.: Peter Eötvös
Gothenburg Orchestra

18 Jan, 2019
Frankfurt, Germany

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome, Gliding of the eagle in the skies

Cond.: Eötvös
HR Orchestra
Alte Oper

17 Jan, 2019
Frankfurt, Germany

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome, Gliding of the eagle in the skies

Cond: Peter Eötvös
Hessischer Rundfunk Orchestra
Alter Oper

25 Oct, 2018
Paris, France

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome, DoReMi

Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin
Conductor. Peter Eötvös

Orchestre de Paris
Philharmonie de Paris

 

24 Oct, 2018
Paris, France

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome, Doremi

Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin
Conductor. Peter Eötvös

Orchestre de Paris
Philharmonie de Paris

11 Jul, 2018
Cividale del Friuli, Italy

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Conductor: Živa Ploj Peršuh
Ljublijana International Orchestra
Sarajevska Filharmonija

9 Mar, 2018
Torino, Italy

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Kodály: Dances of Marosszek
Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome
Bartók: Miraculous Mandarin (ballet)

Cond: Peter Eötvös
Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RA
Auditorium RAI

8 Mar, 2018
Torino, Italy

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Kodály: Dances of Marosszek
Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome
Bartók: Miraculous Mandarin (ballet)

Cond: Peter Eötvös
Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RA
Auditorium RAI

8 Feb, 2018
Florence, Italy

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Conductor: Fabio Luisi
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

16 Oct, 2017
Rome, Italy

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Conductor: Antonio Pappano
Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

14 Oct, 2017
Rome, Italy

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Conductor: Antonio Pappano
Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

12 Oct, 2017
Rome, Italy

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

Conductor: Antonio Pappano
Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

8 May, 2017
Milano, Italy

Eötvös: Alle vittime senza nome

World premiere
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Filarmonica della Scala
Scala

Details

Genre:
Duration:
25 minutes
Date:
2016

Publisher information

Orchestration     

TITLE Dur. Soloists & choir fl ob cl bcl bn   hn tpt tbn tba   perc pf hp   vn1 vn2 va vc db Other Tech
Alle vittime senza nome
Orchestra - Chamber Orchestra
25'43213 4331 411 141210862sax,​ cel

4 Flutes (2nd doubling alto flute, 3rd and 4th doubling piccolo)

2 Oboes

Cor anglais

Eb clarinet

Clarinet in A

Bass clarinet

Alto saxophone

Baritone saxophone

2 Bassoon

Double bassoon

4 Homs in F

3 Trumpets in C

2 Trombones

Bass trombone

Tuba

Percussion:

(4 players)

I

Vibraphone

Tam-tam

Sonagli

II

Xylophone

Tubular bells

3 Cymbals (high, middle, low)

Sizzle cymbal

Guiro

III

Triangle (high)

3 cymbals (high, middle, low)

Sizzle cymbal

Gongs

Bass drum

Cencerros (suspended, not on stand)

Maracas (high)

Long bamboo guiro

IV

Glockenspiel

Crotales

Triangle (very high)

Tam-tam

Tom-tom (tuned)

 

For all percussionists:

Threaded rod (metal), 40-50 cm, diameter: 4 mm

 

Harp

Piano (doubling celesta)

 

14 Violins I

12 Violins II

10 Violas

8 Violoncellos

6 Double basses

Further information

Die Italiener nennen mein Orchesterstück Requiem. Für die Europäer ist das Requiem eine Trauermesse, aber ich habe Scheu, es so zu nennen, weil ich im Andenken an Menschen anderer Kulturkreise schreibe. Deswegen habe ich mich entschieden, es „An die namenlosen Opfer“ zu betiteln. Das Stück soll an die vielen arabischen und afrikanischen Menschen erinnern, die in der Hoffnung, in einer glücklicheren Welt zu landen, unwissend in überfüllte Boote gestiegen und noch vor der italienischen Küste im Meer versunken sind.

Während des Komponierens sah ich die ergreifenden Bilder; sowohl die Gesichter von einzelnen Personen als auch die unvorstellbare Masse von dicht im Boot stehenden Menschen. Dieses Bild transformiert sich in der Komposition zu zarten Melodien der Soloinstrumente und zu dichten Klangmassen, bei denen das ganze Orchester spielt.

Als die fertige Partitur vor mir lag, hatte ich den Eindruck, dass die rhythmische Struktur und die Dramatik seines Themas des Stückes für eine Choreographie geeignet sind, dass es, vielleicht zum ersten Mal in der Musikgeschichte, ein „getanztes Requiem“ sein könnte.

/Peter Eötvös – 2016/

 

Gli italiani chiamano la mia opera sinfonica “Requiem”. Per gli europei il requiem è una messa funebre, ma non sono sicuro di poterla definire tale perché l’ho scritta in memoria di persone appartenenti ad altre culture. Per questo motivo ho preferito intitolarla “Alle vittime senza nome”. Il brano deve ricordare quei numerosi migranti arabi e africani che, nella speranza di approdare a un mondo migliore, sono saliti ignari su barconi sovraffollati inabissatisi prima di raggiungere le coste italiane.

Mentre componevo, vedevo quelle dolorose immagini, sia i volti delle singole persone, sia l’assurda massa di esseri umani stipati uno contro l’altro sull’imbarcazione. Nella composizione, questa visione si traduce nelle lievi melodie degli strumenti solisti e nell’amalgama sonoro, denso e compatto, interpretato dall’intera orchestra.

Una volta completata la partitura, ho avuto la sensazione che la struttura ritmica e la drammaticità del tema del brano fossero adatte per una coreografia e che forse, per la prima volta nella storia della musica, potesse esserci un “requiem danzato”.

/Peter Eötvös – 2016/

Translation: Simona Spada

 

____________________________________________

 

DIAPASON review – March 2020

 

CLASSICA review – March 2020

 

Sound

Video

Alle vittime senza nome (excerpt) (2:04)
hr-Sinfonieorchester
Frankfurt Radio Symphony – 2019

Alle vittime senza nome (27:17)
hr-Sinfonieorchester
Frankfurt Radio Symphony – 2019

Recordings