Alfredo d'Ambrosio: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 51

Alfredo d'Ambrosio (1871-1914)

Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 51

I. Allegro moderato 0:00
II. Andante moderato 11:01
III. Allegro energico 21:56

Christian Sebastianutto, violin
Orchestra Nuove Assonanze
Alan Freiles, conductor

Alfredo D'Ambrosio (1871 – 1914) was an Italian composer and violinist. He studied under Enrico Bossi at the Conservatory "San Pietro a Majella" in Naples, and later with Pablo de Sarasate in Madrid, and August Wilhelmj in London. He then settled in Nice, and devoted himself to his compositions and his work as a teacher.[1] His brother Luigi d'Ambrosio was also a violinist and later teacher of Salvatore Accardo. D'Ambrosio is the author of the opera Pia de' Tolomei, based on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, the ballet Hersilia, two Violin Concertos, a String Quartet in C minor Op.42 (1908) and a Quintet, as well as various concert pieces for violin and piano, which had a certain popularity in the early 20th century. His 1st Violin Concerto (in B minor Op.29, dedicated to Arrigo Serato) was written from April to October 1903 and premiered on 29 October 1904. The 2nd Violin Concerto (in G minor Op.51, dedicated to Jacques Thibaud) premiered by Georges Enesco on 6 April 1913 in Paris, conducted by the composer. His best-known work is his Canzonetta Op. 6, which he recorded in 1907. More recordings of this piece were made in 1914 by Alexander Petschnikoff (1873-1948), Mischa Elman in 1921, and 1924 Toscha Seidel and Georg Kulenkampff in 1924. In addition, there is also his Serenade Op. 4 recorded in 1919 by Jascha Heifetz and by George Enescu in 1924.