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Sir Francesco Paolo Tosti KCVO (9 April 1846, Ortona, Abruzzo2 December 1916,
Francesco Paolo Tosti received most of his music education in his native Ortona, Italy, as well as the conservatory in Naples. Tosti began his music education at the Royal College of San Pietro a Majella at the age of eleven. He studied violin and composition with Saverio Mercadante, who became so impressed with Tosti that he appointed him student teacher, which afforded the young man a meagre salary of sixty francs a month. Poor health forced Tosti to leave his studies and return home to Ortona. He was confined to his bed for several months. During this time he composed several songs, two of which he submitted to the Florentine Art Society, and two others he submitted for publication to
Tosti is remembered for his light, expressive songs, which are characterised by natural, singable melodies and sweet sentimentality. He is also known for his editions of Italian folk songs entitled '.
His style became very popular during the Belle Époque and is often known as
Francesco Paolo Tosti - Ricordi Archive
* *
F. Paolo Tosti recordings
at the Discography of American Historical Recordings. {{DEFAULTSORT:Tosti, Paolo 1846 births 1916 deaths 19th-century classical composers 19th-century British composers 19th-century Italian male musicians 20th-century classical composers 20th-century British composers 20th-century British male musicians 20th-century Italian composers British classical composers British male classical composers British songwriters Italian Romantic composers Italian classical composers Italian male classical composers Italian songwriters Italian British musicians Italian emigrants to the United Kingdom Male songwriters Composers awarded knighthoods Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Academics of the Royal Academy of Music People from Ortona British male songwriters
Sir Francesco Paolo Tosti KCVO (9 April 1846, Ortona, Abruzzo2 December 1916, Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
) was an Italian composer and music teacher.
Life
Francesco Paolo Tosti received most of his music education in his native Ortona, Italy, as well as the conservatory in Naples. Tosti began his music education at the Royal College of San Pietro a Majella at the age of eleven. He studied violin and composition with Saverio Mercadante, who became so impressed with Tosti that he appointed him student teacher, which afforded the young man a meagre salary of sixty francs a month. Poor health forced Tosti to leave his studies and return home to Ortona. He was confined to his bed for several months. During this time he composed several songs, two of which he submitted to the Florentine Art Society, and two others he submitted for publication to Ricordi
Ricordi may refer to:
People
*Giovanni Ricordi (1785–1853), Italian violinist and publishing company founder
* Giulio Ricordi (1840–1912), Italian publisher and musician
Music
*Casa Ricordi, an Italian music publishing company established i ...
. All four were rejected.Ewen, David. ''Great Composers''. HW Wilson Publishing Company, New York City 1966. p. 385.
Once recovered from his illness, Tosti moved to Ancona
Ancona (, also , ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region in central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region. The city is located northeast of Rome, on the Adriatic ...
, where his poverty was such that for weeks at a time he subsisted on nothing but oranges and stale bread. His travels brought him to Rome, where his fortunes turned. He met the pianist and composer Giovanni Sgambati, who became his patron. Sgambati arranged for Tosti to give a concert at the Sala Dante at which the Princess Margherita of Savoy
Margherita of Savoy (''Margherita Maria Teresa Giovanna''; 20 November 1851 – 4 January 1926) was Queen of Italy by marriage to Umberto I.
Life
Early life
Margherita was born to Prince Ferdinand of Savoy, Duke of Genoa and Princess Elisabe ...
(who later became Queen of Italy) was present. Grove, George. '' A Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', vol. 4, 5th ed. Macmillan Publishers, London 2001. She was so impressed with his performance that she appointed him her singing professor. She later appointed him curator of the Musical Archives of Italy at the Court.
In 1875 Tosti travelled to London, England. He made several powerful friends who introduced him to the highest levels of English society. Tosti was a staple in fashionable drawing rooms and salons, and in 1880, he was made singing master to the Royal Family. His fame as a composer of songs grew rapidly while he was in England. One of his compositions, ''For Ever and For Ever'' was introduced by Violet Cameron
Violet Lydia Thompson (7 December 1862 – 25 October 1919), known professionally as Violet Cameron, was an English actress and singer who gained fame in Robert Planquette's operettas '' Les cloches de Corneville'' and ''Rip Van Winkle'', and ...
at the Globe Theatre. This song became a favourite overnight, and there was an enormous demand for his compositions. By 1885 he was the most popular composer of songs in England. His publishers paid him a staggering retaining fee for twelve songs a year.
In 1894 Tosti joined the Royal Academy of Music as a professor. In 1906, he became a British citizen and was knighted ( KCVO) two years later by his friend, King Edward VII
Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910.
The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...
. A memorial plaque on his former home at 12 Mandeville Place, Marylebone
Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary.
An ancient parish and latterly a metropolitan borough, it me ...
(now the Mandeville Hotel) was unveiled on 12 June 1996.
In 1913 he returned to Italy to spend his last years there. He died in Rome on 2 December 1916.Ewen, David.''Composers of Yesterday''. HW Wilson Publishing Company, New York City 1937. pp. 432-433.
Works
Tosti is remembered for his light, expressive songs, which are characterised by natural, singable melodies and sweet sentimentality. He is also known for his editions of Italian folk songs entitled '.
His style became very popular during the Belle Époque and is often known as salon music
Salon music was a popular music genre in Europe during the 19th century. It was usually written for solo piano in the romantic style, and often performed by the composer at events known as "Salons". Salon compositions are usually fairly short and ...
. There is, however, much evidence (albeit fleeting) of a more serious composer particularly in the ''Canti popolari Abruzzesi'', particularly in the introduction to "No. 8 First Waltz".
His most famous works are "Serenata" (lyrics: Cesareo), "Good-bye!" (lyrics: George Whyte-Melville
George John Whyte-Melville (19 June 1821 – 5 December 1878) was a Scottish novelist much concerned with field sports, and also a poet. He took a break in the mid-1850s to serve as an officer of Turkish irregular cavalry in the Crimean War.
L ...
) which is sometimes performed in Italian as "Addio" (lyrics: Rizzelli), and the popular Neapolitan song, " Marechiare", the lyrics of which are by the prominent Neapolitan dialect poet, Salvatore Di Giacomo
Salvatore Di Giacomo (12 March 1860 – 5 April 1934) was an Italian poet, songwriter, playwright and fascist, one of the signatories to the Manifesto of the Fascist Intellectuals.
Di Giacomo is credited as being one of those responsible for ...
. "Malia", "Ancora" and "Non t'amo piu" were and remain popular concert pieces.
Tosti wrote well for the voice, allowing, indeed encouraging, interpretation and embellishment from operatic singers. Most artists, therefore, specialising in the classical Italian repertoire have performed and recorded Tosti songs; yet Tosti never composed opera. Notable examples on record include Alessandro Moreschi
Alessandro Moreschi (11 November 1858 – 21 April 1922) was an Italian chorister of the late 19th century and the only castrato to make solo recordings.
Early life
Alessandro Moreschi was born on 11 November 1858 to Luigi Lorenzo Moreschi (1840 ...
(the only castrato who ever recorded) singing "Ideale", Mattia Battistini singing "Ancora", Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 186123 February 1931) was an Australian operatic dramatic coloratura soprano (three octaves). She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early 20th centur ...
singing "Mattinata" and Enrico Caruso singing "A vuchella" and "L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra".
Songs
* 'A vucchella *Adieu, My Dear (1887, text byThomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle (4 December 17955 February 1881) was a Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher. A leading writer of the Victorian era, he exerted a profound influence on 19th-century art, literature and philosophy.
Born in Ecclefechan, Dum ...
)
*Amour!
*Ancora!
*Aprile
*Ave Maria
*Chanson de l'Adieu
*Donna, vorrei morir
*È' morto Pulcinella!
*For ever and for ever!
*Good-Bye! (1880)
*Ideale
*Il pescatore canta
*Il segreto
*L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra
*L'ultima canzone
*L'ultimo bacio
*La Mia Canzone
*La Rinnovazione
*La serenata
*Lontano dagli occhi
*Luna d'estate
*Lungi
*M'amasti mai?
*Malìa
*Marechiare
*My love and I
*Ninon
*Non mi guardare!
*Non t'amo più!
*O falce di luna calante
*Oblio!
*Oh! quanto io t'amereit!
*Parted
*Patti chiari!
*Penso
*Pierrot's Lament
*Plaintes d'Amour (1876)
*Pour un baiser
*Povera mamma!
*Preghiera
*Preghiera (Alla mente confusa)
*Quattro canzoni di Amaranta
**Lasciami, lascia ch' io respiri
**L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra
**In van preghi
**Che dici,o parola del saggio
*Ride bene chi ride l'ultimo
*Ridonami la calma
*Sogno
*T'amo Ancora!
*Tormento
*Tristezza
*Vorrei
*Vorrei morire!
References
External links
Francesco Paolo Tosti - Ricordi Archive
* *
F. Paolo Tosti recordings
at the Discography of American Historical Recordings. {{DEFAULTSORT:Tosti, Paolo 1846 births 1916 deaths 19th-century classical composers 19th-century British composers 19th-century Italian male musicians 20th-century classical composers 20th-century British composers 20th-century British male musicians 20th-century Italian composers British classical composers British male classical composers British songwriters Italian Romantic composers Italian classical composers Italian male classical composers Italian songwriters Italian British musicians Italian emigrants to the United Kingdom Male songwriters Composers awarded knighthoods Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Academics of the Royal Academy of Music People from Ortona British male songwriters