Ferruccio Busoni, one of the greatest Italian pianists and composers of the early 20th century, was a child prodigy who began performing and composing at a very early age.
Composition History
Busoni's Suite, K. 88, was composed in Vienna in 1878 and first performed in Bolzano in 1879 by Busoni himself on piano and his father, Ferdinando Busoni, on clarinet.
Composition History
The suites on this album represent a compromise between tradition and modernity, emerging from a resurgence of interest in pure instrumental music in Italy.
Historical Context
Until the early 20th century, Italian instrumental music was often neglected, with opera dominating the musical landscape.
Critical Reception
Giuseppe Frugatta's Clarinet Quintet in G minor won a prize from the International Society of London in 1899 and was performed at court in Rome for Queen Margherita.
Composer Biography
Antonio Scontrino, a key figure in the rebirth of Italian instrumental music, toured Europe as a double bass soloist in his youth before dedicating his later life to instrumental works that were popular in Germany.
Composer Biography
Alessandro Longo, a highly influential figure in Italian music, taught piano at the Naples Conservatory for around forty years and played a key role in rediscovering Domenico Scarlatti's harpsichord music.
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