Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Cello and Piano Works (Complete)

Featuring

Vito Paternoster
Giovanni Torlontano
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco

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Composer Biography

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, born in Florence in 1895, studied piano and composition, emerging in Italian music circles in the early 20th century.

Performer Biography

Vito Paternoster, the cellist on this recording, won the first cello position in the Rome RAI Orchestra at a young age and is a member of the famous ensemble I Musici.

Compositional Technique

Elements of Jewish music are present in many of Castelnuovo-Tedesco's works for string instruments, such as the Canto Ebraico.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Castelnuovo-Tedesco's music is characterized by a strong narrative quality, preferring the harmony of imagination and individual lyricism over the chaos of reality.

Compositional Technique

His compositions also incorporate Latin-American rhythms and moods, including tangos, milongas, polkas, and waltzes.

Historical Context

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco was forced to leave Italy in 1939 due to his Jewish origins and sought refuge in the USA.

Compositional Technique

Castelnuovo-Tedesco's music combines lyrical, Italian themes with French-influenced harmonic taste, Debussyan sound effects, and a frequent use of pentatonic scales.