at Gewandhaus, focusing on the events of 11 September 2001, "Vacchi does not describe any attack, nor war. His metaphysical approach is certainly comparable to that of Gustav Mahler: very diverse material is inserted into a broad range, so that meanings which may be felt on an emotional level but not expressible with words are revealed". Style Claudio Abbado defines his style "complex and not derivative, and capable of reaching the listener" and Jean Jacques Natties declares that his music "can furnish a sense of direction for composers in this new century. Thanks to Fabio Vacchi for having known how to chart – for the music enthusiast and the composer alike – an innovative course». So, "Vacchi’s music is characterized in particular by its quality of sound; fluid, refined and shimmering, subtly nuanced and suggestive of echoes and reverberations. The rigour of compositional procedures is tied to a concern to create a communicative idiom which takes into consideration the listener’s perceptive ability". Prizes and acknowledgements Koussevitsky Prize in Composition (Tanglewood, 1974) The Gaudeamus International Composers Award for the entry Les soupirs de Geneviève (Netherlands, 1976) David di Donatello for Best Score of the year, for Ermanno Olmi’s The Profession of Arms (Rome, 2002) Annual Lully Award for the best new work of the year performed in the United States, for the Third String Quartet, commissioned by the Tokyo String Quartet (2002) The Abbiati Prize from the Associazione Nazionale Critici Musicali for the best new work of the year for the opera Il letto della storia (2003) RDC Award for the best soundtrack, for Patrice Chéreau’s Gabrielle (2005) Active Member of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Honorary Member of the Accademia Filarmonica of Bologna Discography See also List of compositions by Fabio Vacchi Teneke (opera) Notes External links Biographical profiles and essays Fabio Vacchi official website Fabio Vacchi principal Scores Editor Fabio Vacchi selected works An essay on Fabio Vacchi by Jean-Jacques Nattiez Listenings and videos Dai calanchi di Sabbiuno recording - Claire Gibault conductor Sacer Sanctus excerpt Flow my Dowland excerpt Roberto Abbado talking about Dai calanchi di Sabbiuno for The Kennedy Center Monographic documentary about Fabio Vacchi, TV Sky Classica 1949 births 20th-century classical composers 20th-century Italian composers 20th-century Italian male musicians 21st-century classical composers 21st-century Italian male musicians David di Donatello winners Gaudeamus Composition Competition prize-winners Italian classical composers Italian male classical composers Italian opera composers Living