The song of a life : Francesco Paolo Tosti (1846-1916) /
Sanvitale, Francesco.
Manzo, Andreina.
Hawthorne, Nicola.
Aldershot : Ashgate,
c2004.
"Born in Ortona in 1846, Francesco Paolo Tosti attended the conservatoire at Naples when he was twelve, and went on to become a gifted violinist and teacher as well as achieving fame as a singer and composer. He lived in Rome (1870-75) as teacher to Princess Margerita of Savoy before moving to London in 1875 where he was singing master to the children of Queen Victoria. Tosti composed and performed throughout this time. He became closely involved with the Ricordi publishing house, who put out all of Tosti's chamber art songs except for a few released by Chappel and Enoch in England, all of which were extremely successful. In all, some 400 works by Tosti were circulated throughout his life and his popularity continued after his death." "Tosti knew and was great friends with many of his contemporary performers and composers, such as Victor Maurel, Nelly Melba, Enrico Caruso, Misha Elman, Verdi, Leoncavallo, Hiller, Mascagni and Puccini. He also became acquainted with people from the other arts, including actress Eleonora Duse and the Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, and the Italian painter Francesco Paolo Michetti. Verdi much admired Tosti, and would recommend him to teach singing. It was through Tosti that the likes of Puccini, Leoncavallo and Mascagni came to be known in the most important musical circles in London; the composers' letters testifying to their appreciation." "Francesco Sanvitale, the leading Tosti scholar, considers not only the life and career of this fascinating character, but also Tosti's extensive repertoire, and provides an insightful cultural context in which to situate Tosti and evaluate his significance. The book investigates contemporary reviews and correspondence, and considers the long-lasting public success of Tosti's songs, despite subsequent unwarranted criticism by inter-war Italian musicologists who dismissed many Italian composers in an effort to promote particular types of music to forge a prominent national image. In this way, Sanvitale fills a notable gap in the study of Italian music in the secondo Ottocento, and shows how Tosti's oeuvre continued to be performed in salons, concert halls and later in recording studios, despite the apparent demise of other composers' works in the art song genre."--BOOK JACKET.
Translation of: Il canto di una vita.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [373]-380) and indexes.
"Born in Ortona in 1846, Francesco Paolo Tosti attended the conservatoire at Naples when he was twelve, and went on to become a gifted violinist and teacher as well as achieving fame as a singer and composer. He lived in Rome (1870-75) as teacher to Princess Margerita of Savoy before moving to London in 1875 where he was singing master to the children of Queen Victoria. Tosti composed and performed throughout this time. He became closely involved with the Ricordi publishing house, who put out all of Tosti's chamber art songs except for a few released by Chappel and Enoch in England, all of which were extremely successful. In all, some 400 works by Tosti were circulated throughout his life and his popularity continued after his death." "Tosti knew and was great friends with many of his contemporary performers and composers, such as Victor Maurel, Nelly Melba, Enrico Caruso, Misha Elman, Verdi, Leoncavallo, Hiller, Mascagni and Puccini. He also became acquainted with people from the other arts, including actress Eleonora Duse and the Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, and the Italian painter Francesco Paolo Michetti. Verdi much admired Tosti, and would recommend him to teach singing. It was through Tosti that the likes of Puccini, Leoncavallo and Mascagni came to be known in the most important musical circles in London; the composers' letters testifying to their appreciation." "Francesco Sanvitale, the leading Tosti scholar, considers not only the life and career of this fascinating character, but also Tosti's extensive repertoire, and provides an insightful cultural context in which to situate Tosti and evaluate his significance. The book investigates contemporary reviews and correspondence, and considers the long-lasting public success of Tosti's songs, despite subsequent unwarranted criticism by inter-war Italian musicologists who dismissed many Italian composers in an effort to promote particular types of music to forge a prominent national image. In this way, Sanvitale fills a notable gap in the study of Italian music in the secondo Ottocento, and shows how Tosti's oeuvre continued to be performed in salons, concert halls and later in recording studios, despite the apparent demise of other composers' works in the art song genre."--BOOK JACKET.
Tosti, F. Paolo (Francesco Paolo), 1846-1916