William Shakespeare's works were a recurring fascination for Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, inspiring 33 song settings, 35 sonnets, 11 overtures, and two operas.
Composer Biography
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, born in Florence, Italy, studied composition and pianoforte at the Istituto Musicale Cherubini and the Liceo Musicale of Bologna.
Historical Context
In 1938, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco left Italy for the United States due to Mussolini's anti-Jewish edicts, receiving help from Toscanini and Heifetz.
Composer Biography
After settling in California, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco became a prolific film music composer for MGM between 1940 and 1956, while also composing over seventy concert works.
Composer Biography
As a faculty member at the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco taught notable composers like Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, André Previn, and John Williams.
Recording & Production
This album features the first complete recording of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's 11 Shakespeare Overtures, with some of the works being world premiere recordings.
Compositional Technique
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Shakespeare overtures create impressions of specific dramatic aspects rather than closely following plot details, often using direct text quotations to introduce musical ideas.
