Alfonso Rendano: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra

Alfonso Rendano
(b Carolei, nr Cosenza, 5 April 1853; d Rome, 10 Sept 1931). Italian pianist and composer. He had his first musical education in Caserta, and in 1863 entered the Naples Conservatory (for only six months). He made his début as a pianist at the age of 11, but in 1866 resumed studying with Thalberg, who had become very much attached to him and who at that time lived in Naples. In 1867 he went to Paris to establish himself as a virtuoso, and there he took lessons with Georges Mathias, to whom he was introduced by Rossini; in the same year he performed in London. He took other advanced courses in 1868 at the Leipzig Conservatory under Reinecke and Richter. From then on he won success as a concert artist on tours to all the major cities of Italy. He also performed at the Leipzig Gewandhaus (8 February 1872), the Musical Union (30 April 1872), the New Philharmonic Society (9 March 1873), the Crystal Palace and elsewhere in London, including at court and in private circles. Further appearances followed in Paris and Budapest.