Castelnuovo-tedesco: Piano Quintets

BIANCHI ARON QUARTETT, MASSIMO GIUSEPPE BIANCHI

Born in Florence, Italy, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco went on to study piano and composition at Luigi Cherubini Conservatory before continuing his education in Bologna. Two of his most impactful teachers were Ildebrando Pizzetti and Alfredo Casella.; Castelnuovo-Tedesco developed into a mature musician quickly, and even in his younger years was among the most sought-after members of what was then Italy’s musica nuova. In 1918 he received his diploma in composition from the Liceo Musicale di Bologna.; The first of the two piano quintets he composed during his career was dedicated to Italian pianist Ernesto Consolo. The piece was published sans Opus number in 1932. The work is known for its baroque eclecticisms, and its capacity for creating scenic spaces.; The second quintet was composed in Beverly Hills, California in 1951, and give Op. 155. The work is entitled Memories of the Tuscan Countryside. As a whole, the piece is cheerful and serene, and reminds the listener of a nostalgic yearning for the composer’s native Italy.

Price: $25.98