Piovani, Nicola

(1946-)

   Pianist, orchestra director, film and theater composer. After graduating from the Conservatory of Milan in 1967, Piovani worked as a pianist and song arranger before studying composition under Manos Hadjidakis. He began composing for film in the early 1970s, writing his first scores for Silvano Agosti's N.P. il segreto (NP, 1970) and Marco Bellocchio's Nel nome del padre (In the Name of the Father, 1972). He subsequently scored six other films for Bellocchio, including Marcia trionfale (Victory March, 1976) and Salto nel vuoto (Leap into the Void, 1980) while also working regularly on the films of Mario Monicelli and Nanni Moretti, his scores for Moretti's Caro diario (Dear Diary, 1993) and La stanza del figlio (The Son's Room, 2001) both receiving the David di Donatello. Piovani also collaborated extensively with Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, creating the haunting soundtracks of all the Tavianis' films from La notte di San Lorenzo (Night of the Shooting Stars, 1982) to Tu ridi (You're Laughing, 1998), and proved to be a worthy successor to Nino Rota in providing the music for Fellini's Ginger e Fred (Ginger and Fred, 1986), Intervista (Fellini's Intervista, 1987), and La voce della luna (The Voice of the Moon, 1990).

   He has also worked with a host of foreign directors including Dusan Makavejev, Bigas Luna, and Ben Verbong. In addition to film music he has written songs, chamber music, musical comedy, and ballet and orchestra suites and has also been prolific in music for theatrical productions. In 1991, together with writer Vincenzo Cerami, Piovani founded the musical theater company La Compagnia della Luna (The Company of the Moon), which has continued to tour widely, performing his compositions. A recipient of numerous honors and prizes, his greatest triumph to date has been the Oscar he received for the score of Roberto Benigni's La vita e bella (Life Is Beautiful, 1998).