Italy in the 19th Century

What did Italy look — and sound — like when Marco Enrico Bossi was born? In this first episode, we step into 19th-century Italy, a time when the organ was inspired by the world of opera. At the center of this musical scene was Serassi, the celebrated organ builder who made it possible for the instrument to sound like a full orchestra.

Bossi, who graduated as a pianist, never finished his organ studies — he couldn’t identify with the dominant style of the time. That early artistic resistance would later define his unique voice and forward-looking musical vision.

This episode is presented in French by Alessandro Urbano.

Music by Vincenzo Bellini (Sonata per organo), Giovanni Morandi (Benedizione del Venerabile) and Filippo Capocci (Introduction).