Due Canti Meridionali

Mina Ferraguti, violinist and teacher in Rome, wrote these two poems in memory of her husband Mario, who had been the Italian minister of agriculture during World War II, and was called by d’Annunzio “Mario della frutta.” Mina was also my husband’s teacher and mentor, which is how I met her in 1987 and obtained the poems. I have tried to capture musically not only the mood of the poetry, but the spirit of the poet as well, mysterious and a little sad.