Quick Facts
Biography
Alfredo D'Ambrosio (Naples, 13 June 1871 – Nice, 29 December 1914 [or Paris, 31 December 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. His brother Luigi d'Ambrosio was also a violinist and later teacher of Salvatore Accardo.
Works
Alfredo 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.