Maria Rago’s “Images_” featuring Laura Gómez is a compelling piece of classical contemporary music, characterized by its melancholic mood and intense emotional depth. The Italian pianist and composer, now residing in Illinois, USA, skillfully weaves her rich cultural influences and profound emotional experiences into every note. Rago’s evocative compositions have earned her international acclaim, including numerous awards and performances at prestigious festivals and theaters worldwide.
About the Composer, Maria Rago: A curious and compassionate listener is what best describes Italian pianist and composer Maria Rago. Born in Sicily, though now residing in Illinois, USA, she has used her new environment to build her music career. Despite her late coming to the music world, she has utilized how to express her emotions through her music, which has led to her works being performed worldwide. She began playing the piano at the age of 24 and studied with Lea Cumbo at the Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali V. Bellini di Caltanissetta (Italy), where she graduated and continued with her studies with Eliodoro Sollima. She studied her composition at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse in Lyon, France with Philippe Schoeller. Her love for arts is limited to music composing and photography, travel, black and white movies. Alongside her studies, she rapaciously soaked up influences from across the arts: not just musically from J.S. Bach, Igor Stravinsky, Arvö Part and Frank Zappa, but paintings of Caravaggio and Picasso and the literary works of Dostoyevsky, Strindberg and Beckett.
She continues to write and perform music that seeks to challenge, soothe, and stimulate her audience’s senses, which has granted her the opportunity to perform in festivals and theaters throughout Europe and the USA. Her works have earned various nominations and won numerous awards, including the Global Music Awards Honors (bronze medal) Recently she won, with the American-Brazilian director Rafael Fernanz, the award for Best video “Voice surrounding the city” and Best music at Christian Film Festival 2018 (Newport News USA) and the award for Best Music at The American Tracks Music Award International Contest 2018 (Los Angeles, USA). Additionally, she won Best Music at Aphrodite Film Festival (New York, USA) and the Best Music Award at Lady Filmmakers Festival (Beverly Hills, USA) 2nd place at Paris Play International Film Festival (Paris,France). Award for Best Music at X World Short Film Festival (Las Vegas, USA) and Anabelle Munro’s Most Important Films ( Las Vegas, USA). Honorable Mention, Tokyo International Film Festival. 2nd place at The Artists Forum International Music Competition (New York, USA).
Stream Maria Rago – “Images_” with Laura Gómez, soprano on SoundCloud: on.soundcloud.com/GqAHc
Follow Maria Rago:
- Facebook: facebook.com/mariaragomusic3
- Instagram: @mariaragomusic
- Web: mariaragomusic.com
