Sgambati: Complete Piano Music Vol. 2

Caporiccio, Gaia Federica

PCL 10252

Born in Rome, to an Italian father and an English mother, Giovanni Sgambati (1841-1914), received his early education at Trevi, in Umbria. In his early twenties he met Franz Liszt in Rome, where the great composer resided for a period each year from 1861. The young man immediately became his favourite pupil, a faithful interpreter of his compositions and a precious collaborator for the mission that warmed both their hearts: to spread classical music in the Roman society of the time. Liszt's Roman school was based in Sgambati's home, where the master trained the best pianists of the time. Sgambati was the first to conduct his Dante Symphony. Liszt took him with him on his travels and introduced him to Richard Wagner, who deeply admired his compositions. His fame grew rapidly, leading him to give concerts all over Europe and in Russia. He received invitations and signs of esteem from the most important musicians of his time: in addition to Liszt and Wagner, he was friends with Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Massenet and Busoni.

Sgambati’s piano music consists of a wide variety of shorter pieces: nocturnes, impromptus, preludes. This doesn’t say it is merely salon music, his piano works have a solid and well-defined structure, innovative ideas and interesting harmonic choices, showing mastery of the musical discourse and an unique expressiveness, all concentrated in a few minutes.

This second volume of the complete piano works by Sgambati presents the 12 Mélodie poétiques Op. 36, Fogli volanti Op. 12, Fantasie alpestri and many shorter individual works.

Born in Florence in 1988, Gaia Federica Caporiccio’s first encountered the piano at the age of 5 showing a clear interest and an undeniable musical gift. At the age of 18, she received the Bachelor Diploma at the "Cherubini" Conservatory. Two years later, she obtained the Master in Music Performance – Concert with highest score. During the following years, she refined her art by attending some of the best musical academies with Pietro De Maria, Marian Mika, and Vovka Ashkenazy, performing in many concerts and winning several Piano Competitions.

“Gaia Federica Caporiccio plays with a winsome freshness, offering finely shaped melodies and insightful rubato” (Fanfare about Sgambati vol. 1).

Works:

•Melodies poetiques op. 36
• Giovanni Sgambati: Morceaux op. 42 Nr. 1-3
• Giovanni Sgambati: Fogli volanti op. 12
• Sgambati: Pezzi di seguito op. 18 Nr. 1-4
• Giovanni Sgambati: Klaviersuite op. 21
• Giovanni Sgambati: Fantasie alpestri
• Giovanni Sgambati: Valse brillante
• Giovanni Sgambati: Scherzo E-Dur
• Sgambati: Toccata
• Giovanni Sgambati: Romanzen F-Dur & A-Dur
• Giovanni Sgambati: Mestizia
• Giovanni Sgambati: Melodie-Impromptu (Mestizia, 2. Version)
• Giovanni Sgambati: Boite a musique "Badinage"
• Giovanni Sgambati: Serenatina E-Dur; Presentimento
• Giovanni Sgambati: Preludio

CD

2.10.2023

5029365102520