The Music

Stefano Burbi
composed and conducted the award winning musical score for Annigoni: Portrait of an Artist. Mr. Burbi is an accomplished musician who has a rich repertoire of original work that has been performed worldwide. I first encounted Stefano Burbi's music in Toronto. He was conducting the Canadian Chamber Academy in a performance dedicated to the restoration of Florence after a murderous explosion outside the Uffizi Gallery in 1992. I was extremely moved by the composition "Adagio Per Firenze." Our ideas and personalities clicked and we soon became friends.

Mr. Burbi is also a Florentine and a fan of Annigoni. Meeting Stefano seemed like Divine inspiration. Our time together became a collaboration of a lifetime. I cannot imagine the music being more "in tune" or sympathetic with the images in the film, and the ideas of Annigoni.

The music was recorded in the ancient mountain church of Sacra Famiglia, which is perched in Fiesole, overlooking Florence. Legend has it that Leonardo da Vinci attempted his first flight on the mountain side beside the small church.

Each evening with all the musicians packed into vehicles we climbed the meandering roads to the top of Fiesole. Under the direction of Burbi the orchestra played without stopping into the early hours every evening.

Stefano Burbi describes his work as, "music of memory and nostalgia, it is melancholic because we remember, like Annigoni, a paradise that has been lost. I would like to leave the same impression, the same feeling, that was instilled in the work of Annigoni. That is every person should leave something of worth to be remembered by and what they do in this life is not done in vain."

The music has garnered critical acclaim as well as winning the "Best Musical Score" at the Toronto International Hot Docs Film Festival.

Since completing the film Mr. Burbi continues to compose, conduct and tour with his newly expanded orchestra, The Orchestra da Camera Nova Harmonia di Firenze.

The music is available on CD.