Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Piano Works

Featuring

Alfonso Soldano
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco

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Critical Reception

For many years, Castelnuovo-Tedesco's solo piano works were largely ignored until rediscovered by pianist Aldo Ciccolini, who found a score by chance in a library.

Composer Biography

After moving to America, Castelnuovo-Tedesco worked as employee number 11694 for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, becoming a "cog in a well oiled machine" in the film industry.

Composer Biography

Castelnuovo-Tedesco was a teacher to many aspiring composers who later became famous, including Henry Mancini, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, and André Previn.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Castelnuovo-Tedesco's musical sensibility was shaped by the contrapuntal rigor of his master Ildebrando Pizzetti and the harmonic atmosphere of French Impressionists like Debussy and Ravel.

Recording & Production

This album includes two world premiere recordings: Notturno in Hollywood and Sonatina Zoologica, Op. 187.

Composer Biography

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, a Sephardic Jew, was forced to leave his native Florence in 1939 due to Fascist racial laws and became an American citizen in 1946.

Performer Biography

Pianist Alfonso Soldano is one of the last and favorite long-time students of the legendary Italian-French pianist Aldo Ciccolini, who championed Castelnuovo-Tedesco's piano music.