Giuseppe Patroni Griffi

Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, born in Naples on 27 February 1921, was a multifaceted and prominent figure in the Italian cultural landscape, working successfully as a director, playwright, screenwriter, writer and artistic director. Although he devoted himself to the writing of novels, short stories and cinema screenplays, the centre of his entire existence was theatrical art. His plays and his directorships, both in the field of straight theatre and in that of lyric opera, were always distinguished by formal elegance and an aesthetic inquiry sustained by profound and acute intellect.

Of fundamental importance was his artistic partnership with the celebrated "Compagnia dei Giovani" (composed of De Lullo, Falk, Guarnieri and Valli), for which he worked as their defining playwright. His debut in writing for the stage was welcomed with great esteem by Giorgio De Lullo, who underscored its immediate expressive maturity and wealth of theatrical experience, far removed from the uncertainties typical of a newcomer.

In the course of his career he also took on important executive roles in Rome: from 1978 to 1981 he led the artistic direction of the newly founded Piccolo Eliseo, promoting contemporary international dramaturgy, while from 2002 to 2005 he held the position of artistic director of the Teatro Eliseo, confirming his profound connection with the theatrical scene of the capital.

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The farewell

15 dicembre 2005 · Roma