Italian-born German conductor and composer; b. Venice, April 21, 1920; d. Darmstadt, Nov. 13, 1973. Maderna commenced musical studies at the age of four, and soon took violin lessons. He began touring as a violinist and conductor when he was only seven, appearing under the name "Brunetto Maderna" in Italy and abroad.

Maderna studied at the Verdi Conservatory in Milan, the Rome Conservatory, where he earned a diploma in composition, in 1940, and at the Venice Conservatory. He then served in the Italian army during World War II, eventually joining the partisan forces against the Fascists. After the war, he studied conducting in Darmstadt. He taught composition at the Venice Conservatory from 1947 to 1950, and then made his formal conducting debut in Munich in 1950.

Maderna subsequently became a great champion of the AVANT-GARDE. With LUCIANO BERIO, he helped to form the Studio di Fonologia in Milan in 1954. Also with Berio he was conductor of the Italian radio's Incontri Musicali from 1956 to 1960. In 1963 he became a naturalized German citizen.

Maderna taught conducting and composition in various venues in Europe and the U.S. from the mid-'50s through the early '70s. He was chief conductor of the RAI (Italian Radio Orchestra) in Milan from 1971. Stricken with cancer in the early '70s, he continued to conduct concerts as long as it was physically possible.

Maderna was held in great esteem by composers of the international avant-garde, several of whom wrote special works for him. Maderna's compositions follow the trends of new European music of the period, including the overlayering of two or more separate works to create a new one. After a period of neglect, his music has undergone a revival in recent years. His works include operatic and stage works, orchestral and chamber works, vocal works, and many electronic pieces.