Francesco Cilea arranged and re-orchestrated Leonardo Leo's (1694-1744, a founder of the Neapolitan school of composition) Concerto in D for cello, transforming its form and instrumentation.
Composer Biography
Francesco Cilea (1866-1950), an Italian composer, is primarily known for his operas, especially L'Arlesiana and Adriana Lecouvreur.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Cilea's instrumental works, such as the Suite for Violin and the Piccola Suite, reveal his attention to counterpoint, scoring, and an approach to tonal harmony influenced by French composers.
Recording & Production
This album is dedicated to the previously unpublished works of Francesco Cilea, aiming to highlight his importance as an Italian composer of the twentieth century.
Composer Biography
After 1913, Francesco Cilea concentrated on teaching and became director of the S. Pietro a Majella Conservatoire in Naples in 1916, a position he held until his retirement in 1935.
Compositional Technique
The Piccola Suite for orchestra by Cilea extensively uses 'advanced' compositional forms, such as modalities, whole-tone scales, and long sequences of seventh and ninth chords, influenced by French music.
Historical Context
Many composers of the Giovane Scuola ('young school') in Italy, including Cilea, were largely overlooked after the 1940s due to the impact of new musical languages and the historical avant-garde.
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