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The idea of a concert society arose shortly after the end of the First World War (1919). As well as being a reaction to the violence of recent years, it also reflected a need to make music into a spiritual haven from the post-war tide of suffocating materialism. Thanks to the organisational and administrative skills and above all the passion for music of Modenese lawyer Mario Pedrazzi, the society's chairman up until his death in 1965, the association was able to invite to Modena some of the world's leading soloists and most celebrated ensembles. Mario Pedrazzi's ambition was to revive an enthusiasm for chamber and orchestral music in his native city by organising concerts and conferences. Each year artistic events of such a high level of quality were organised that Modena soon became well known throughout Italy and abroad. Arturo Toscanini, Arthur Rubinstein, Ottorino Respighi, Wanda Landowska, Pizzetti, Alfred Cortot, Edwin Fischer, Rudolf Serkin, Quartetto Italiano, Wilhelm Backhaus and Vladimir Horowitz are just a few of the musicians who have performed in Modena.
Following the advent of the Teatro Comunale symphonic concert season in Modena, the Amici della Musica concentrated on solo and chamber music and continued to invite important performers such as Nikita Magaloff, Louis Lortie, Alexander Lonquich and the Melos and Hagen quartets.
During the last twenty years, the concert programmes have featured repertoires from the classic and romantic periods as well as masterpieces and rare works of ancient music, with performances given by Gustav Leonhardt, Musica Antiqua Köln, Dowland Consort, Collegium Musicum Freiburg and Ensemble La Reverdie. Above all, however, the association has focused on twentieth century and contemporary music, inviting specialists of the repertoire such as Roberto Fabbriciani, Ciro Scarponi, Enzo Porta and Quintetto Bibiena |
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