Renato Grisoni

Renato Grisoni (1922–2012) was a composer and organist whose career linked northern Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland. Born in Preglia, in the Val d’Ossola, he began his musical studies with Pietro Acquadro at the Rosminian college in Domodossola and continued his training at Italian conservatories, studying organ, piano and composition. He also served as organist in Domodossola.

His music was performed by musicians including Ernest Ansermet. His Cantico di Sora Luna, Fantasia op. 82 for guitar and orchestra, was composed in 1986 and dedicated to Marco Taio. Composer and soloist worked together on the guitar part and the structure before the first recording at the RTSI studios in Lugano on 6 February 1987, with the Swiss Radio orchestra and conductor Christian Schmied. Taio’s account in the album booklet describes a close artistic friendship that continued until Grisoni’s death on 31 May 2012.