The Art Centre has offered opportunities for intense, stimulating and adventurous listening for over seventy years. Music of today, without distinction, in continuous transformation. Every concert will be a serendipity and a surprise.
The Art Centre was established in the autumn of 1945 following the initiative of some students of the University of Padova. Set up as a free student association, its aim was to make the university public aware of all the latest trends in art – turning its attention to literature, painting, music. It was the first association of its kind in Italy.
From the very beginning, the activity of the Art Centre focused mainly on the concert field with regular chamber music seasons (later organised with Amici della Musica di Padova); it then expanded its horizon to contemporary music, research, jazz music, and musical experimentation in the broadest sense. Over time it has also ventured into popular music, both European and non-European, from traditional Venetian songs to Provençal folk dances, from the Arabic vocal repertoire to Indian raga.
In its activity, the Art Centre has has kept a vested interest in contemporary artistic experiences and the high level of its performers. Among these, the most noteworthy are Friedrich Gulda, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Andrès Segovia, David Tudor, Karlheinz Stockhausen and, in more recent years, Sylvano Bussotti, Frederic Rzewski, Terry Riley, Carl Stone.
The first Jazz reviews also began in the 1950s, with a programme which included the most important names on the international scene: Gerry Mulligan, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Lennie Tristano, Chet Baker, Thelonious Monk, Earl Hines, Art Farmer, Gil Evans; and more adventurous trends such as Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Anthony Braxton, Steve Lacy, Paul Bley and many others.
After a few quiet years, the Art Centre has resumed the international jazz festival in 1992, hosting, among others, Tim Berne, John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Elvin Jones, Michel Portal, Jimmy Giuffre, Henry Threadgill, Joshua Redman, Paul Motian, Joe Lovano, Lester Bowie, William Parker, Wadada Leo Smith.
Never-ending and scrupulous seeking for new talents led to present to the public artists like Dave Douglas, Myra Melford, Ray Anderson, Brad Mehldau, Uri Caine and, in more recent years, Ken Vandermark, Rob Mazurek, Mats Gustafsson, to name just a few.
As a direct product of the university world, the Art Centre is primarily addressed to the students’ public with the aim of offering a series of cultural activities integrating university teaching while also being related to the world of culture and contemporary art.
Fore more information:
CENTRO D’ARTE DEGLI STUDENTI DELL’UNIVERSITÀ DI PADOVA
via L. Luzzatti 16b, 35121 Padova – tel. 049 8071370
info@centrodarte.it – www.centrodarte.it
