ITALIAN VIOLINIST ALFREDO CAMPOLI (1906-1991) 2 CDR

 

ALFREDO CAMPOLI (ROME, ITALY, OCTOBER 30, 1906 – PRINCES RISBOROUGH, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND, MARCH 27, 1991)

 

Campoli was born in Rome in 1906 where his father was leader of the orchestra at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, taught the violin and was Alfredo’s first teacher. His mother was a dramatic soprano who had toured with Scotti and Caruso, but a retired performer at the time of Campoli’s birth. His family moved to England in 1911, and 5 years later Campoli was already giving public concerts. In 1919 he entered the London Music Festival and won the gold medal for his performance of the Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. Campoli made his professional debut in a recital at the Wigmore Hall in 1923. He toured with such singers as Dame Nellie Melba and Dame Clara Butt. Although he appeared in the standard repertoire with symphony orchestras, during the depression there was little demand for a soloist and Campoli formed his Salon Orchestra and the Welbeck Light Quartet playing at restaurants in London, and other such venues. He appeared at a Prom concert in 1938. During World War II he gave numerous concerts for Allied troops. After the war, he had extended tours of Europe, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, and Australia, and continued his work with the BBC, eventually achieving over 1,000 radio broadcasts. He made his American debut in 1953, playing Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole with the New York Philharmonic under George Szell. In 1955 he gave the first performance of Sir Arthur Bliss’s Violin Concerto, which was written for him. In 1956 he twice toured the Soviet Union. At the beginning of the 1960s, Campoli was living in Southgate, London. Campoli was also a keen bridge player, and died just before a game at the Bridge Club in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, a few miles from his home in Thame, Oxfordshire. His archives are kept at Cambridge University Library. A blue plaque dedicated to him was unveiled at 39 North Street, his home in Thame, 14 April 2011. Campoli owned two Stradivarius violins, the Baillot-Pommerau of 1694 and the Dragonetti of 1700.

 

TRACKLIST

 

Arioso (Bach) with Norihiko Wada (piano)

Capriccio-Valse, Op. 7 (Wieniawski) with Daphne Ibbott (piano)

La Capricieuse, Op. 17 (Elgar) with Eric Gritton (piano)

La Gitana (Kreisler) with Eric Gritton (piano)

La Ronde des Lutins Scherzo fantastique, Op. 25 (Bazzini) with Norihiko Wada (piano)

Le ménétrier (Dudziarz) (Wieniawski) with Daphne Ibbott (piano)

Legende, Op. 17 (Wieniawski) with Daphne Ibbott (piano)

Légende, Op.17 (Paganini) with Norihiko Wada (piano)

Liebeslied (Kreisler) with Eric Gritton (piano)

Obertass (Wieniawski) with Daphne Ibbott (piano)

Polichinelle (Kreisler) with Eric Gritton (piano)

Polonaise Brillante No. 2, Op. 21 (Wieniawski) with Daphne Ibbott (piano)

Polonaise de concert, Op. 4 (Paganini) with Norihiko Wada (piano)

Polonaise No. 1 in D, Op. 4 (Wieniawski) with Daphne Ibbott (piano)

Romance (Wieniawski) with Daphne Ibbott (piano)

Rondino On A Theme Of Beethoven (Kreisler) with Eric Gritton (piano)

Rondo La Campanella (Paganini) with Norihiko Wada (piano)

Souvenir de Moscou, Op. 6 (Wieniawski) with Daphne Ibbott (piano)

Tambourin Chinois, Op. 3 (Kreisler) with Eric Gritton (piano)

Tango (Albeniz) with Norihiko Wada (piano)

The Bee, Op. 13, No. 9 (Schubert) with Eric Gritton (piano)

Variation On A Theme Of Corelli (Tartini) with Eric Gritton (piano)

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26 I. Vorspiel. Allegro moderato (Bruch)

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26 II. Adagio (Bruch)

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26 III. Finale. Allegro energico (Bruch)

Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 Allemande (Bruch)

Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 Chaconne (Bruch)

Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 Courante (Bruch)

Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 Gigue (Bruch)

Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 Sarabande (Bruch)