Oreste Riva was an Italian composer of chamber music. He graduated in composition and cello from the Conservatory of Parma. Riva worked as conductor of the municipal orchestras of Mirandola, Verona and Castagnaro. From 1909 to 1921, during the time of the Antwerp Olympics, he was director of the “Isidoro Capitanio” orchestra in Brescia. After a successful enhancement of the orchestra, he resigned due to conflicts with the management. He composed Le Geishe, a polka for two mandolins and guitar, and several other works for mandolins and piano. An acknowledged composer, he also wrote marches, suites and dances, as well as four melodramas including Il Narciso, which was successfully staged at Cremona in February 1933. He was also a talented illustrator, and under the pseudonym Pilade Sponda, published cartoons in a local newspaper, where he also worked as music critic.
He won the silver medal at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics in the Art Competitions, Music category with his work Triumphal March. Like in the 1920 Official Report, it is mostly listed under the name Epinicion, a 9-minute-long work for soprano, male chorus and ensemble (four flutes, three trumpets, three trombones and harp), which comprises classical elements.
Italy