Alfredo D'Ambrosio

Alfredo d'Ambrosio (13 June 1871 – 29 December/31 December 1914) was an Italian composer and violinist. He studied under Enrico Bossi at the Conservatory San Pietro a Majella in Naples, and later with Pablo de Sarasate in Madrid and August Wilhelmj in London. He then settled in Nice, and devoted himself to his compositions and his work as a teacher.^[1] His cousin Luigi d'Ambrosio was also a violinist and later teacher of Salvatore Accardo. Alfredo D'Ambrosio died in Paris, aged 43.

Works[]

Born in Naples, Alfredo d'Ambrosio is the author of the opera Pia de' Tolomei, based on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, the ballet Hersilia, two violin concertos, a string quartet in c minor, Op. 42 (1908) and a quintet, as well as various concert pieces for violin and piano, which had a certain popularity in the early 20th century. His first violin concerto (in B minor, Op. 29, dedicated to ) was written from April to October 1903 and premiered on 29 October 1904. The second violin concerto (in G minor, Op. 51, dedicated to Jacques Thibaud) premiered by Georges Enesco on 6 April 1913 in Paris, conducted by the composer.^[2]

His best-known work is his Canzonetta, Op. 6, which he recorded in 1907. More recordings of this piece were made in 1914 by Alexander Petschnikoff (1873–1948), in 1921 by Mischa Elman, and in 1924 by Toscha Seidel and Georg Kulenkampff. In addition, there is also his Serenade, Op. 4 recorded in 1919 by Jascha Heifetz and by George Enescu in 1924.

References[]

Marco BIZZARINI,"Alfredo d'Ambrosio" (magazine LIVE performing & arts, May–June 2021, pages 34–39)

External links[]

• Works by or about Alfredo D'Ambrosio at Internet Archive
• Free scores by Alfredo D'Ambrosio at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)