Giuseppe Martucci

Giuseppe Martucci (born January 6, 1856 in Capua , † June 1, 1909 in Naples ) was an Italian composer , pianist and conductor .

Life

Martucci was initially tutored by his father, a trumpeter and military musician, and performed as a pianist at the age of eight. From 1867 to 1871 he studied at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Maiella in Naples with Beniamino Cesi (piano) and Paolo Serrao (composition). In the following years he gave concerts as a pianist in Italy, France and England, often together with the cellist Alfredo Piatti . In 1880 he received a professorship for piano at the Naples Conservatory, from 1886 to 1902 he was director of the Liceo Musicale in Bologna , and from 1902 he took over the management of the Naples Conservatory.

As a conductor, Martucci stood up for the work of Richard Wagner . In 1888 he conducted the Italian premiere of Tristan in Bologna . In Italy, however, he also made instrumental music by his contemporaries from Germany, France and England known. Martucci's students included u. a. Ottorino Respighi .

plant

Martucci composed instrumental music at a time when Italian musical life was mainly dominated by opera. Stylistically, he was less based on Wagner than primarily on the Beethoven - Schumann - Brahms tradition . In addition to numerous piano pieces, he composed two symphonies (op.75, D minor, 1895; op.81, F major, 1904), two piano concertos (D minor, 1878; B minor, 1884/85), an oratorio ( “Samuel”), the orchestral song cycle La canzone dei ricordi , an organ sonata and chamber music (including a piano quintet and two piano trios). Arturo Toscanini repeatedly included Martucci's compositions in his programs; The 2nd piano concerto became part of Anton Rubinstein's repertoire and Gustav Mahler conducted it in New York in 1911 in the last concert before his death.

literature

Friedrich Blume (Ed.): Music in the past and present . Bärenreiter, Kassel 1949–1986.
Francesco D'Avalos (text / conductor): Complete recording of the orchestral work. CD supplement. Brilliant Classics label. No. 93439.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Martucci, Giuseppe
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Italian composer, pianist and conductor
DATE OF BIRTH	January 6, 1856
PLACE OF BIRTH	Capua
DATE OF DEATH	June 1, 1909
Place of death	Naples