During World War II Manzù moved to Clusone, returning to teach at Brera after the end of the conflict, a position he held until 1954.
"Ballo in Fa Diesis Minore" is based on Ingmar Bergman The Seventh Seal in which a man defies the personification of Death (lyrics are taken from an inscription of a Danse Macabre depiction at Clusone, near Bergamo); the melody is inspired by "Schiarazula Marazula", a medieval northern Italian theme which accompanied exorcism rites and which was collected by Giorgio Mainerio in his Primo libro de' balli (1578).
Clusone |
He painted a Birth of St. John the Baptist and Descent from the Cross for the principal church of Clusone a Transfiguration for the Chiesa di Monesterolo in the Valle Cavallina, and an Adoration of the Magi for the church of the Padri Osservanti at Lovere.