A Florentine composer between two worlds: Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968)

Lecture in English by Matteo Sansone 

 

As a result of Mussolini’s 1938 racial laws, the Jewish composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco left Florence and settled in Beverly Hills where he remained until his death. In addition to film scores, orchestral music and works for classical guitar, Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s catalogue reflects his predilection for the art song, especially for Shakespeare’s poetry. He also composed two operas to texts by Shakespeare: All’s Well That Ends Well and The Merchant of Venice. His final opera was a comedy based on The Importance of Being Earnest. Dr Matteo Sansone is a musicologist specialising in Italian opera.

 

 

The Cultural Programme is open to members of the British Institute of Florence. Membership options range from 24 hours to Life. For membership see here.