One hundred years ago Luigi Nono (1924-90), a leading figure in the musical avant-garde, with performers such as Claudio Abbado and Maurizio Pollini, was born. Teatro alla Scala staged the premieres of his operas Al gran sole carico d'amore (Teatro Lirico, 1975) and Prometeo (Stabilimento Ansaldo, 1985),
the definitive version. 

The exhibition traces his biography, from his beginnings and it summarizes the continuity of a poetics divided between political indignation, technology and associating with anyone who fought for a better world. The title is taken from an essay by Massimo Mila on Il canto sospeso, an early Nono masterpiece. The celebrated scholar served years of imprisonment for anti-fascism and was a partisan leader during the Resistance. Nono maintained a relationship of deep closeness with him. Friendships, family and affections are an integral part of the great composer's music.

Nono was a committed intellectual, always possessed by a political passion that sparked heated discussions. “Even without being a believer, one can appreciate Beethoven's Missa Solemnis” he had the Venetian maestro wittily argue to audiences who disagreed with the revolutionary ideas that stimulated his creativity.