AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD

Two contemporary music festivals in Rome,
described by GIUSEPPE PENNISI

Even in the rather small world of music experts and musicians, very few specialists know that Rome is one of the European capitals of contemporary music. In 2009, the number of hours of contemporary music played in Rome by modern music societies, as well as by electronic music and electro-acoustic associations were slightly more than those performed in Berlin (about two thousand five hundred). The statistics refer only to music performed for a paying audience, even if at very low prices (often around ten euros per ticket). In 2010, there has been a reduction of performances due to budget cuts by the state and local government financing sources, plus lower contributions by enterprises and other donors. Contemporary music is one the first victims of a recession and of budget cuts because it commands a rather small and specialized audience and has no lobby to advocate its merits in government and in parliament...

ROME

ITALY

AVANT-GARDE

CHINA

ARGENTINA