CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO, MARIO  

Born in Florence in 1895 into a family of Sephardic origin, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco was a pupil of Ildebrando Pizzetti, to whom he owed much. In the period between the wars he established himself as a pianist, appearing as a soloist, accompanist and participant in chamber music, and as a critic for various musical journals. His compositions were heard in Italy and abroad, notably at the festivals of the ISCM.

After the Italian racial legislation of 1938 and with the support of Heifetz, Toscanini and Albert Spalding, and with the assurance of employment, he moved to America. From 1940 to 1956 he worked for various film studios in Hollywood, contributing to some 250 productions. At the same time he continued his own work as a composer, with a series of some seventy works of all kinds, including oratorios and cantatas, songs, operas, concertos, guitar music and compositions for the piano.

In 1946 he had become an American citizen and until his death in 1968 he taught at the then Los Angeles Conservatory, where his pupils included Henry Mancini, Jerry Goldsmith, John T. Williams and André Previn. He died in Los Angeles in 1968.

Vocal Music

Castelnuovo-Tedesco was a very prolific composer. His songs include 33 attractive settings of Shakespeare which have won wide approval.

Guitar Music

Castelnuovo-Tedesco made particularly useful additions to the solo guitar repertoire, notably in two concertos for solo guitar and one for two guitars, as well as a Capriccio diabolico, a tribute to the demon violinist Paganini.