Briccialdi: Works for Flute & Piano

Featuring

Roberto Fabbriciani
Massimiliano Damerini
Giulio Briccialdi

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Composer Biography

Giulio Briccialdi, known as the "prince of flutists," was an outstanding virtuoso, a composer, a teacher, and an innovator in flute construction.

Historical Context

Giulio Briccialdi demonstrated his patriotism by performing concerts between 1857 and 1860 to raise funds for "the purchase of a million shotguns for General Garibaldi's men."

Critical Reception

Richard Shepherd Rockstro, an authoritative critic, praised Briccialdi as one of the finest performers he had ever heard on any instrument, not just the flute.

Instruments

Giulio Briccialdi introduced improvements to the 'Böhm' flute system, which were officially presented at the 1851 Universal Exposition of London, and later obtained a patent for his 'Briccialdi' flute system.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Briccialdi's autobiography reveals he considered himself an "honest musical craftsman" rather than just a "prince of flutists," valuing the combination of art and craftsmanship.

Composer Biography

Giulio Briccialdi was one of the first conductors to use a baton and to come from a wind instrument background, rather than the traditional string instrument background.

Compositional Technique

Briccialdi's compositions, such as his operatic paraphrases for flute and piano, combine bel canto with "acrobatic brilliancy" and a refined interplay of rhythms, harmonies, and colors.