The last years, from 1966 onwards: non-theatrical works, including the last three symphonies and ‘L'Aredodese'

During his last six years of creative activity Malipiero wisely did not attempt any further works of the size or complexity of Le metamorfosi di Bonaventura: the one apparent exception, Gli eroi di Bonaventura (1968), is in fact (as we have had many occasions to note ¹ ) a very special case, constructed almost entirely of extracts from earlier operas ranging from Giulio Cesare (1934–5) right up to Le metamorfosi (1963–5). The remainder of Malipiero’s very last stage works are all relatively small and unambitious; moreover Il marescalco (1960–68), which many would regard as the most richly rewarding of them, only apparently belongs to the later 1960s, since nearly all its music had already been written before the Rappresentazione e festa di Carnasciale e della Quaresima. Nor is it likely to be a coincidence that the success of the three operas which were composed entirely after 1965 varies in inverse proportion to their dimensions: Don Tartufo bacchettone (1966), which is comparable in length to Don Giovanni, ² also shares most of that work’s defects; whereas Uno dei Died and L’Iscariota (both 1970), each of which is almost exactly as long as the Rappresentazione e festa, ³ are truly amazing achievements considering the composer’s age, and Uno dei Died may be regarded, in its small way, as his last real masterpiece.