Luigi Donorà

Luigi Donorà enjoyed a significant reputation as a composer. His education in the field of music is impressive. Some of his musical works are also related to Istria. However, his childhood years were difficult, sharing the fate of many other exiles – from sleeping on the floor in reception camps to being belittled by some Italians – however, there were also touching gestures of support. One of these opened the way for him to study at a conservatoire. Namely, whilst doing a job in Turin for which he was trained through courses for the unemployed, he constantly read music books during his breaks. His supervisor, originally from Sicily, understood what the young Luigi was aspiring to and wrote a letter to the mayor of Turin, explaining what it was all about. And the mayor granted him free study at the conservatoire! During his studies in Siena, his teacher was also from Pazin, Luigi Dallapiccola.

He was one of the founders of the Vodnjan Society – Famiglia Dignanese, which was founded in Turin in 1967. His daughter, Giuliana, who deals professionally with Vodnjan themes is also active in it.

Luigi Donorà passed away in the middle of 2022.

… we didn’t even have the freedom of speech, to tell the truth, because it was not good for us, because we were afraid.

In Calambrone, Tirrenia, the Italians used to tell their children “be good or I will give you to the refugees to eat”… you can understand what it was like for our parents when they saw how they treated us… what could we do… nothing…