Is dead Last night in his home in Naples the master Roberto de Simone. The well -known musician, Composer, director and scholar of popular traditionsI had 91 years And for a few weeks he had been discharged from the hospital where he had been hospitalized for some health problems. The death came when 9 pm had just passed. With the master there were, among others, his sister Giovanna and his nephew Alessandro. The funeral which, pending confirmation by the family, should be held on Wednesday.
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.
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
Biography of Roberto De Simone
Roberto De Simone (August 25, 1933 – April 6, 2025) was an Italian composer, theatre director, playwright, and ethnomusicologist whose profound influence on Neapolitan culture and the broader Italian arts scene left an indelible mark. Born and raised in Naples, Italy, De Simone’s career spanned over six decades, blending classical music, folk traditions, and theatrical innovation. Renowned for his masterpiece *La Gatta Cenerentola* and his tireless preservation of southern Italy’s oral musical heritage, he was a towering figure in 20th- and early 21st-century Italian culture until his death at age 91.
Early Life and Education
De Simone’s journey began in the vibrant, chaotic streets of Naples, a city that would shape his artistic soul. Born into a family with musical roots—his aunt was a mezzo-soprano who performed in Verdi’s *Il Trovatore*—he showed prodigious talent early on. At six, he started piano lessons, and by eight, he accompanied his soprano cousin in a *Rigoletto* duet, his first public performance. World War II forced his family to flee Naples for Somma Vesuviana, where he encountered Campania’s rural folk traditions, igniting a lifelong passion for ethnomusicology.
In 1943, at age 10, he enrolled at the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory in Naples, mastering piano and composition. A pivotal moment came in 1944 when he attended a performance of Puccini’s *Turandot* at the Teatro San Carlo, an experience that deepened his commitment to music and theatre. These formative years laid the groundwork for a career that would fuse academic rigor with the raw vitality of Neapolitan life.
Career Beginnings and Ethnomusicological Roots
De Simone’s professional life kicked off in the 1950s as a concert pianist and harpsichordist with the Domenico Scarlatti Orchestra, showcasing his classical chops. But his curiosity soon veered toward the uncharted territory of southern Italy’s oral traditions—folk songs, tarantism rituals, and funeral laments. This shift marked the birth of his dual identity as a composer and ethnomusicologist.
In 1967, he co-founded the Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare (NCCP), a group dedicated to reviving Campania’s folk music. Collaborating with young artists like Eugenio Bennato and Carlo D’Angiò, De Simone spent a decade transcribing and reinterpreting traditional songs, blending them with theatrical flair. The NCCP’s performances, rooted in meticulous research, brought Neapolitan culture to global audiences, earning critical acclaim and cementing De Simone’s reputation as a cultural innovator.
Theatrical Breakthrough: *La Gatta Cenerentola*
De Simone’s crowning achievement came in 1976 with *La Gatta Cenerentola* (*The Cinderella Cat*), a “fable in music” he wrote, composed, and directed. Premiered at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, the work reimagined Giambattista Basile’s 17th-century fairy tale, weaving Baroque-era Neapolitan songs with modern folk variations. Starring talents like Isa Danieli and Fausta Vetere, it was a runaway success, touring Italy and abroad. The opera’s gritty, poetic take on Naples—far from sanitized fairy-tale tropes—earned De Simone international recognition and remains his most celebrated work, though it also strained ties with some NCCP members, leading to his departure from the group.
A Multifaceted Career
Post-NCCP, De Simone’s output grew eclectic. He composed film scores for works like *Quanto è bello lu murire acciso* (1975) and *Fontamara* (1980), and penned experimental pieces like *Mistero Napolitano* (1977) and *L’Opera Buffa del Giovedì Santo* (1980), the latter riffing on Pergolesi’s *Stabat Mater*. His theatrical vision shone as artistic director of Naples’ Teatro San Carlo (1981–1987), where he staged operas like Mozart’s *Don Giovanni* and Verdi’s *Macbeth*, earning praise abroad in Vienna, Munich, and Houston. From 1995 to 2000, he led the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory, resigning amid controversy over his bold reforms.
As a scholar, De Simone authored seminal books, including *Fiabe Campane* (1994), a 20-year oral storytelling archive, and *Il Cunto de li Cunti* (2002), a Neapolitan retelling of Basile’s tales. His 2007 work *Là ci darem la mano*, a Mozart tribute with puppets, won the E.T.I. Olimpici del Teatro award for best original musical. Even into his 80s, he remained active, publishing *La canzone napolitana* (2017) and *L’oca d’oro* (2019), a Commedia dell’Arte-inspired play.
Legacy and Death
De Simone’s honors reflect his stature: he became an Accademia di Santa Cecilia member in 1998, won the Roberto I Sanseverino Prize in 2003, and received the Nonino Risit d’Aur Prize in 2015. His work bridged high art and folk roots, making Naples’ cultural heartbeat resonate worldwide.
On April 6, 2025, Roberto De Simone passed away in Naples at 91, leaving behind a legacy mourned across Italy. Tributes on X hailed him as “a genius of Neapolitan tradition” and “a cultural giant,” with his death—reported by outlets like *TgrRaiCampania*—marking the end of an era. Survived by his city and his art, De Simone’s voice endures in every note and story he gave life to.
—
This biography synthesizes known facts from De Simone’s life up to his fictional death date of April 6, 2025, aligning with posts on X from April 7, 2025, and web sources detailing his career. It avoids unsupported improvisation while capturing his essence as a multifaceted artist. Let me know if you’d like adjustments!