The organ in Saluzzo Cathedral, used for this recording, was built in 1855 by Fratelli Serassi of Bergamo and later expanded in 1910.
Composer Biography
Respighi's fame extended to the United States and Latin America, where he toured as a composer, director, and piano accompanist, often with his wife, Elsa Olivieri Sangiacomo, a former student, composer, and singer.
Composer Biography
Respighi was admired by notable figures such as Igor Stravinskij, Georg Gershwin, Giacomo Puccini, Albert Einstein, and Gabriele d'Annunzio, with whom he had an intense artistic relationship.
Composer Biography
Respighi received lessons from Nicolaj Rimskij-Korsakov, a famous Russian composer, while working as first violist at the Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg between 1900 and 1901.
Recording & Production
This album features recordings made on two different organs: one from 1855, built by Fratelli Serassi, and another from 2011, built by Francesco Zanin.
Historical Context
In 1932, Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator, awarded Respighi the title of Accademico d'Italia, an honor that may have contributed to the subsequent neglect of his music in Italian programming.
Composer Biography
Ottorino Respighi, the composer, studied violin, viola, organ, counterpoint, harmony, and composition at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna.
