Archivio Storico Ricordi: A Music Cathedral in Print
"Una cattedrale della musica. L’Archivio Storico Ricordi," published by Corraini in 2018, explores the rich history of Casa Ricordi, which was founded in Milan in 1808 by violinist Giovanni Ricordi. This company became closely associated with the greats of Italian opera: Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi, and Puccini. In 1957, Nanni Ricordi launched Dischi Ricordi, which produced influential recordings, including Maria Callas's "Medea" and helped promote artists like Giorgio Gaber and Fabrizio De André. The company also supported innovative composers like Luigi Nono. In 1994, Bertelsmann Music Group acquired Ricordi, and its archive was recognized as a historical site. The book, edited by Ferruccio Giromini, captures over 200 years of cultural significance.
Key facts
- Casa Ricordi founded in 1808 in Milan by Giovanni Ricordi.
- Published operas by Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini.
- Nanni Ricordi founded Dischi Ricordi in 1957.
- First recording: Maria Callas in Cherubini's Medea.
- Discovered Italian singer-songwriters: Gaber, Jannacci, Vanoni, Tenco, Paoli, De André.
- Published avant-garde composers: Nono, Maderna, Berio, Bussotti.
- Sold to BMG in 1994; archive protected by Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage.
- Book published by Corraini Edizioni, Mantova, 2018, 224 pages, €35.
Entities
Artists
- Giovanni Ricordi
- Gioachino Rossini
- Gaetano Donizetti
- Vincenzo Bellini
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Giacomo Puccini
- Nanni Ricordi
- Maria Callas
- Luigi Cherubini
- Georges Brassens
- Jacques Brel
- Giorgio Gaber
- Enzo Jannacci
- Ornella Vanoni
- Luigi Tenco
- Gino Paoli
- Fabrizio De André
- Luigi Nono
- Bruno Maderna
- Luciano Berio
- Sylvano Bussotti
- Ferruccio Giromini
Institutions
- Casa Ricordi
- Dischi Ricordi
- Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG)
- Corraini Edizioni
- Ministero dei Beni Culturali
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Mantova