Guido Chigi Saracini

Count Guido Chigi Saracini (Siena, 8 March 1880 – Siena, 18 November 1965), full name Guido Chigi degli Useppi Saracini Lucherini, was an Italian patrician, a musical patron and composer, and a public administrator. Having inherited the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini in the centre of the city of Siena, Tuscany, he applied his musical instincts to his new opportunities, restored the Palazzo in 1923, and established a concert society and later (1932) a musical academy there. The Accademia Chigiana, which flourishes today, grew under his supervision into a famous institution for higher instruction, research and performance in chamber music, playing an important role in the revival of Italian baroque instrumental music, and in the advocacy and performance of contemporary Italian classical music. Chigi Saracini, who lent his authority to various cultural projects and public forums in Siena, through his academy and through the September music festival "Settimane musicali" which he established in 1939, gave to Siena an international musical reputation: leading world musicians brought their experience and example to its work and performances, while the international tours of the Quintetto Chigiano, and the Quartetto Italiano (which coalesced at the academy in 1942) spread the example of its excellence. During his life, Count Chigi Saracini maintained personal involvement in the development and direction of his Academy, and endowed it as a Foundation in 1961, thereby assuring its continuation after his death. Education and first years Guido Chigi Saracini was a scion of the noble Sienese House of Chigi, of ancient origins and of diverse musical interests: one of his forebears was a pupil of Claudio Monteverdi and others were violists and singers. Guido, the son of Antonio Chigi Saracini and Giulia Griccioli, studied violin at the Florence Conservatory. In 1905 he married Bianca Kaschmann, daughter of the Austrian-American baritone Joseph Kaschmann.