Piano Concerto in G minor, op 15 by Giovanni Sgambati 1. Moderato maestoso 2. Romanza. Andante sostenuto 3. Allegro animato Jorge Bolet, piano Nürnberg Symphony Orchestra Ainslee Cox, conductor
Sgambati is a rather unknown Italian composer who devoted himself to the instrumental music at a time when an Italian composer seemed to be born only to write operas. One cannot claim to the unknown genius, of course, but he deserves to be known, as many German or French composers.The fact that Joege Bolet recorded this concerto proves its value. Aften him, in the XXth century, at least Casella, Malipiero, and later on Dallapiccola, Nono, Berio continued in that direction in the style of their time. YT made a great effort in that direction.
Maderna has always been another leading light for me and his solo wind works meant a lot to me as a composer who is trained on piano . Sound and texture like in Scelsi's work very important ! Dallapiccola I'm still reading papers on . Malipiero is rarely discussed . I think most pianists familiar with Liszt's atelier will recognize Sgambati . I heard this concerto on radio back in 1990 or earlier and taped it off radio .Lost the tape but have never forgotten the impression it made upon me .
Le buone peculiarità musicali di questo concerto sono piaciute e non solo a lui per cui ha ritenuto divulgare lo stesso con questa bellissima esecuzione. Ottimo concerto .
Biography: Portrait of Giovanni Sgambati by Vespasiano Bignami (1888) Born in Rome, to an Italian father and an English mother, Sgambati, who lost his father early, received his early education at Trevi, in Umbria, where he wrote some church music and obtained experience as a singer and conductor. In 1860 he settled in Rome, and took up the work of winning acceptance for the best German music, then little known in Italy. The influence and support of Franz Liszt, who was in Rome from 1861, was naturally of great advantage to him, and concerts were given in which Sgambati conducted as well as playing the piano. His compositions at this period (1864-1865) included a quartet, two piano quintets, an octet, and an overture. He conducted Liszt's Dante Symphony on 26 February 1866 at the opening of the Sala di Dante at the Palazzo Poli, with 27 of Filippo Bigioli's paintings exhibited nearby. He made the acquaintance of Richard Wagner's music for the first time in Munich, where he travelled in Liszt's company. His first album of songs appeared in 1870 (Schott Music), and his first symphony was played at the Palazzo del Quirinale in 1881; this, as well as a piano concerto, was performed in the course of his first visit to England in 1882; and at his second visit, in 1891, his Sinfonia epitalamio was given at the Philharmonic. His most extensive work, a Requiem Mass, was performed in Rome in 1901. His many pianoforte works have won permanent success. Sgambati was also active in the contemporary musical scene as a promoter of the music of others and, among these, Dante Alderighi. He conducted the Italian premieres of Beethoven's third and of seventh symphonies (in 1867 and 1870 respectively). He also conducted the Italian premieres of more recent works such as Liszt's Dante Symphony and Christus oratorio. He died in Rome, aged 73. Notable students include pianist and composer Lucia Contini Anselmi and contralto Mary Augusta Wakefield. See: List of music students by teacher: R to S#Giovanni Sgambati. (Wikipedia)
Wonderful concerto. One has to wonder How Bolet zeroed in on this? I mean, Who ever even HEARD of Sgambati? I'm showing my own ignorance (and the piece should be more often performed) but it's a great "discovery" !
Francesco Attardi, who conducted Sgambatti's Symphony #2 has been gracious enough to correspond with me on here. He's trying to educate people in Englad and the US about Sgambatti and Italian music being more than just opera. If you enjoyed this concerto, be sure to check out his symphonies. Wonderful music! I applaud Maestro Attardi and others who are working so diligently to bring these wonderful composers to our attention. Yes, Beethoven, Brahms, Bach, and others of their renown are great, but contrary to what you can hear on classical radio, they are not the only composers of wonderful music.
Giovanni Sgambati was a Franz Liszt pupil known above all for his transcription over a theme by Glück, theme often played as an encore by Sergeï Rachmaninov or Guiomar Novaës or her pupil Nelson Freire
Perhaps not so surprising, considering for instance that Toscanini conducted Sgambati's music (and Martucci's - a truly great composer as well). But this takes nothing off Bolet's merit. It is one thing to know that Sgambati and Martucci heralded the revival of 'pure' orchestral music in Italy, it is another toactually champion their works.
