Casella's grandfather, Pietro, was a cellist who was friends with Paganini and performed at Lisbon's San Carlo Theatre and Turin's Cappella regia di Carlo Alberto.
Composer Biography
Alfredo Casella, the composer, was descended from two generations of cellists, which influenced his early interest in composing for the instrument.
Performer Biography
The Duo Pepicelli, consisting of brothers Francesco (cello) and Angelo (piano), focuses on Italian early 20th-century repertoire.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Casella's compositional journey was marked by constant stylistic exploration, driven by an "eagerness for the new" and a need to continually surpass himself.
Composer Biography
Alfredo Casella, despite his later piano career, found the technical study of piano burdensome, preferring composition.
Compositional Technique
Casella's pursuit of a bright sound-palette was achieved through the use of Italian folklore, which he considered fundamental to his compositional experience.
Composer Biography
Casella's mother, Maria Bordino, was an extraordinary woman who tutored him until age thirteen and began studying English at 75 to read Shakespeare in the original language.
