Alfano, Franco

Franco Alfano – Eliana (Suite romantica)

(b. Posillipo near Naples, 8 March 1875 – d. Sanremo 27 October 1954)

Preface
Franco was a composer whose name, though primarily known in opera circles, occupies a prominent place in the Italian late-Romantic tradition. Alfano’s background helped shape his music. He started his studies at the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella in Naples and later went to Leipzig, where his teachers were Hans Sitt and Salomon Jadassohn. In Leipzig, he also met composer Edvard Grieg, whose music influenced him. After completing his studies, Alfano moved to Berlin in 1896, initially pursuing a career as a pianist, though he soon shifted his focus toward composition. By 1899, he had, where he was exposed to the rich musical landscape of the time and traveled extensively, even reaching Russia. Establishing himself in San Remo, Italy in 1914 this place remained an important residence for him throughout his life. His teaching career was equally distinguished. He joined the Liceo Musicale in Bologna in 1916, later becoming its director in 1918. He played a significant role in fostering modern Italian music, co-founding the society Musica Nova in 1920. His influence continued as director of the Liceo Musicale (later Conservatory) of Turin from 1923 to 1939, and later as superintendent of the Teatro Massimo in Palermo (1940–42). Toward the end of his career, Alfano briefly held a professorship in operatic studies at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome before serving as acting director of the Liceo Musicale in Pesaro from 1947 to 1950.

One can hear Grieg’s influence on Alfano’s melodies, his use of different instruments and his creation of a special atmosphere through his use of lyrical, folk-like material. This approach resembles Grieg’s distinctive style of a mix of folk elements with orchestral sophistication..

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