Casella, Alfredo (1883-1947)

Italian composer. He reacted strongly against the too exclusive and melodramatic operatic tendencies in the Italy of his time and aimed at reviving the classical Italian, predominantly instrumental music. His own work moved from the influence of Debussy and Mahler through atonality and towards neoclassicism. In 1924 he founded, with Gabriele d'Annunzio and Gian Francesco Malipiero, an association for the propagation of modern Italian music.

He was born in Turin, where his father was a teacher at the Liceo. In 1896 he went to the Paris Conservatory, France, to study piano under Diémer and composition under Gabriel Fauré. From 1912 he directed popular concerts at the Trocadero, Paris. At the start of World War I he went to Rome and taught piano at the Liceo di Santa Cecilia.

Works Stage La donna serpente (after Gozzi; 1928-31), La favola d'Orfeo (1932), Il deserto tentato; ballets Il convento veneziano and La giara (after Pirandello).

Orchestral three symphonies, suite Italia, Elegia eroica, Pagine di guerra, Introduzione, aria e toccata (1933), concerto for orchestra; A notte alta, Partita, and Scarlattiana for piano and orchestra; concerto for violin, cello, organ, and orchestra.

Chamber concerto and five pieces for string quartet and other chamber music; cello and piano sonata; many piano works including sonatina and Sinfonia, arioso e toccata; two suites for piano duet.

Vocal Notte di maggio for voice and orchestra (1914); numerous songs.