Francesco Paolo Tosti, a prolific composer of nearly 500 songs, was also a singer and a highly regarded singing teacher, recommended by Giuseppe Verdi himself.
Composer Biography
Tosti was appointed singing teacher to Princess Beatrice, daughter of Queen Victoria, and even persuaded the Queen herself to join in on occasion.
Composer Biography
Tosti achieved significant success in London, becoming the music publisher Giulio Ricordi's 'man in London' and an advisor to composers like Mascagni and Leoncavallo.
Cultural Impact
Tosti's songs were widely popular, designed for people of moderate ability to perform in their own homes, especially during an era when many households owned pianos.
Album & Artwork
The album cover is inspired by a pre-1916 portrait of Francesco Paolo Tosti by Carlo De Marchi, held in the Archivio Storico Ricordi.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in the Sol Joseph Recital Hall at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music between July 24th and July 28th, 2023.
Critical Reception
Despite his popularity, Tosti's music fell out of fashion by the 1910s and 1920s, with progressive Italian musicians and British intelligentsia dismissing the popular nineteenth-century style.
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