‘On 21 February 1911, Gustav Mahler stood on the podium in Carnegie Hall facing the musicians of the New York Philharmonic. He was about to conduct what sadly proved to be his last concert: an all-Italian programme that included Giuseppe Martucci's Second Piano Concerto. This is only one of the many examples that indicate the popularity and success Martucci enjoyed during his lifetime. Top notch musicians such as pianist Guido Alberto Fano and conductor Arturo Toscanini frequently performed his music.
Sadly, many of the large number of piano works Martucci composed have yet to be recorded, which is one of the main driving forces behind my pursuit of this mission to share his music. The majority of the seventeen tracks on this album represent the world premiere recordings of the works.’
– Matteo Generani, Piano
Alexey SHOR (b. 1970)
Composer’s Notebook, Vol. 1
Travel Notebook, Suite for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 *
Violin Concerto No. 4 **
Matteo Generani, PianoGiuseppe Martucci was one of the formative figures in the re-establishment of Italian instrumental music in the second half of the 19th century. His orchestral music had advocates as powerful as Mahler and Toscanini, and his piano concertos won admirers. His solo piano music was performed mostly by him, and today remains virtually unknown. These compositions offer verdant, colourful melodies, striking dance themes, and elegant music crafted for the salon. There are also some flamboyant and virtuoso challenges, tracing a lineage back to Scarlatti.
Italian pianist Matteo Generani is an Italian music specialist, performing works from Frescobaldi to contemporary composers. In May 2020, he recorded the complete set of Études, Op. 23 by the contemporary Italian composer Giovanni Albini. Particularly important is his research on Giuseppe Martucci, the topic of his doctoral studies in Kansas City, for which he presented several lectures, performed and recorded solo piano and chamber music works, and made original arrangements. Generani is co-founder of the Neo-Art Piano Duo with Indonesian pianist Regina Tanujaya, and the Medhelan Duo with Italian violinist and violist Doriano Di Domenico.
Complete Orchestral Music, Vol. 1
Symphony No. 1
Giga • Canzonetta • Andante • Notturno
Noferini
Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma
La Vecchia
– AllMusic.com
Complete Orchestral Music, Vol. 2
Symphony No. 2
Theme and Variations • Gavotta • Tarantella
De Barberiis
Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma
La Vecchia
– AllMusic.com
Complete Orchestral Music, Vol. 3
Piano Concerto No. 1
La canzone dei ricordi
Coggi • Pasini
Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma
La Vecchia
– Fanfare
Complete Orchestral Music, Vol. 4
Piano Concerto No. 2
Momento Musicale e Minuetto • Novelletta
Serenata • Colore orientale
Coggi
Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma
La Vecchia
– American Record Guide