George Frederick Pinto
George Frederick Pinto (born September 25, 1785 in Lambeth as George Frederick Sanders or Saunders , † March 23, 1806 in Chelsea ) was an English composer and piano virtuoso.
Life
His mother Julia was the daughter of the English violinist Thomas Pinto (1727–1782), whose father was of Neapolitan origin. George himself was initially a child prodigy on the violin, at the age of eight the impresario Johann Peter Salomon took him under his wing. Pinto took his mother's maiden name and performed a concert in London in 1796. During the remainder of his short career he played regularly at concerts in London and the English provinces and made two short concert tours to Paris .
Pinto apparently didn't start playing the piano until he was already a professional violinist, but it soon became his instrument of choice. He wrote a number of pieces for both instruments, some of which were left unfinished upon his death. Others, including a violin concerto, have been lost. Most of the compositions were written within three years. His works were not rediscovered until the 1960s. He died at the age of 20, presumably of tuberculosis, reportedly a "martyr of indulgence" after giving a charity concert in Birmingham and sleeping in a damp room. JP Salomon wrote his death: If he lived and the temptations of society would have resisted, England would have the honor become a second Mozart produce .
Marek Toporowski recorded Pinto's entire piano oeuvre on historical keyboard instruments on CD.
Works (selection)
- 3 Favorite Airs for piano op.2 (1802)
- Six Canzonets for voice and piano (Birmingham, 1803)
- Four Canzonettes for voice and piano (Edinburgh)
- 2 piano sonatas op.3 (1803)
- A Grand Sonata in C minor for piano (1803)
- 3 piano sonatins op.4 (1804)
- 3 duets for 2 violins op.5
- Three sonatas for violin and piano (1806)
Web links
- George Frederick Pinto Short biography from the Grove Concise Dictionary of Music (English)
- Sheet music and audio files by George Frederick Pinto in the International Music Score Library Project
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Pinto, George Frederick |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Sanders, George Frederick (maiden name); Saunders, George Frederick |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English composer and piano virtuoso |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 25, 1785 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Lambeth |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 23, 1806 |
| Place of death | Chelsea |