Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, the composer, left Italy for the United States in 1938 due to Mussolini's anti-Jewish edicts.
Performer Biography
Andrew Penny, the conductor, has made over 35 recordings for Naxos and Marco Polo, specializing in British Music, and his complete cycle of Sir Malcolm Arnold's symphonies was a BBC Music Magazine top recommendation.
Composer Biography
Upon arriving in New York in 1939, Castelnuovo-Tedesco was met by violinist Jascha Heifetz, who commissioned a violin concerto from him.
Composer's Artistic Vision
William Shakespeare's works were a recurring fascination for Castelnuovo-Tedesco, inspiring 33 songs, 35 sonnets, 11 overtures, and two operas.
Compositional Technique
Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Shakespeare Overtures create impressions of specific dramatic aspects rather than following detailed plots, often using direct textual quotations to introduce musical ideas.
Composer Biography
After settling in California, Castelnuovo-Tedesco became a prolific film music composer, writing between 1940 and 1956, and also taught notable pupils like Henry Mancini and John Williams.
Recording & Production
This album features the first complete recording of Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Shakespeare Overtures.
