Dominick Argento

Dominick Argento, an American composer who studied both in America and Italy, has written several operas and numerous song cycles.

Photo: Dominick Argento, Boosey & Hawks, www.boosey.com

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About

Born in York, Pennsylvania, Argento was educated at Peabody Conservatory after returning from serving in the military. Thanks to a Fulbright grant, he continued his studies in Florence with Dallapiccola, followed by a Ph.D. from Eastman.

Argento immediately moved to Minnesota after receiving his Ph.D. to teach theory at the University of Minnesota, and he has stayed there ever since. Many of Argento’s operas have been premiered by Minnesota Opera, though he has also received commissions from New York City Opera and Washington Opera, as well as the Baltimore and St. Louis Symphonies.

Argento’s music displays a particular lyrical strength, and his style lends itself to vocal music. Because of this talent, Argento has written many song cycles. His cycle From the Diaries of Virginia Woolf won him the Pulitzer Prize in 1975. Other important song cycles include Letters From Composers (1968–seven texts from different composers, from Bach to Chopin), The Andrée Expedition (1982–personal writings of ill-fated Swedish expeditioners who tried to reach the North Pole in a hot-air balloon), and Casa Guidi (1983–texts by Elizabeth Barrett Browning).

–Christie Finn

Source: Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians

Related Information

Songs

Videos

Recordings

Songbird

(Dominick Argento and Samuel Barber)

2017

Dominick Argento: The Andrée Expedition & From the Diary of Virginia Woolf

(Dominick Argento)

2017

From the Heartland

(Dominick Argento)

2012

Casa Guidi: Von Stade Sings Argento

(Dominick Argento)

2003

Argento: The Andrée Expedition

(Dominick Argento)

1999

American Songs (Barbara Bonney)

(Dominick Argento, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland and André Previn)

1998

From the Diary of Virginia Woolf

(Dominick Argento)

1997

To Be Sung Upon The Water - Song Cycles

(Dominick Argento)

1996

Argento: To Be Sung Upon the Water

(Dominick Argento)

1996

Permit Me Voyage: Songs by Americans

(Dominick Argento, Elliott Carter, Ricky Ian Gordon and Richard Hundley)

1992

Sheet Music

Dominick Argento Sheet Music

Buy via Boosey & Hawkes

15 Art Songs by American Composers (High Voice)

Composer(s): Dominick Argento, Leonard Bernstein, Theodore Chanler, Aaron Copland, John Duke, Richard Hundley, Ned Rorem

Voice Type: High

Buy via Sheet Music Plus

15 Art Songs by American Composers (Low Voice)

Composer(s): Dominick Argento, Leonard Bernstein, Theodore Chanler, Aaron Copland, John Duke, Richard Hundley, Ned Rorem

Voice Type: Low

Buy via Sheet Music Plus

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