Théâtre musical et matiérisme : Atomtod de Giacomo Manzoni

Abstract

This article deals with Atomtod (1964), Giacomo Manzoni's third stage work, which addresses the theme of atomic weapons and its political and social issues. After evoking the historical context in which it was conceived, we studied some emblematic aspects of Atomtod’s libretto, focusing on music and staging as well as its analogies with Intolleranza by Luigi Nono. Based on archival documents (sketches, press articles, an inedited correspondence), the present article specifically aims at illustrating to what extent this work refers to the composer’s materialistic poetics.