Matteo Franceschini will be awarded the Leone d’argento (Silver Lion) for music at the Venice Biennale 2019, with the following motivation:

Among the most original voices of our time and a pioneer composer-interpreter, Matteo Franceschini’s music is based on a sensibility that is open to an array of creative dimensions of sound. His expertise ranges from chamber and symphonic music to pieces for theater, where acoustic sonority is enhanced by the addition of highly innovative electronics. Franceschini’s work stands out for its intelligence, which is rife with curiosity and a longing to explore new inroads, and its efficacy. He succeeds in being extremely communicative even when adopting the most complex forms, which combine artistic experiences that are not limited to classical music, but also encompass time-tested rock-based themes.  


The Leone d’argento Awards Ceremony will take place on October 3, 2019, part of the 63rd International Contemporary Music Festival. Presenting the award will be Paolo Baratta, President of the Venice Biennale, and Ivan Fedele, Director of the festival’s Music Section. 

Photo: © Carlo Baroni