Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

January 13, 1882 in Taranto, Italy

Death

:

1973 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Band

 

Domenico Savino was an Italian-American composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the world of classical music during the early 20th century. He was born on September 23, 1891, in Rome, Italy, to a family of musicians. His father, Giuseppe Savino, was a violinist, and his mother, Maria, was a pianist. Domenico showed an early interest in music and began studying the violin and piano at a young age. In 1905, when Domenico was 14 years old, his family immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. There, he continued his musical education and studied composition with the renowned composer and conductor Victor Herbert. He also played in various orchestras and worked as a pianist in vaudeville theaters. In 1914, Savino began working as a conductor for the Vitagraph Studios in Brooklyn, where he composed and conducted music for silent films. He quickly gained a reputation for his ability to create music that perfectly matched the mood and action on the screen. He went on to work for other film studios, including Fox and Warner Bros., and composed music for over 200 films during his career. Despite his success in the film industry, Savino remained committed to classical music and continued to compose and conduct orchestral works. In 1924, he composed his first symphony, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic. He went on to compose several other symphonies, as well as numerous concertos, chamber works, and operas. One of Savino's most famous works is his "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra," which was premiered in 1929 by the New York Philharmonic with Jascha Heifetz as the soloist. The concerto is known for its virtuosic violin writing and lush orchestration, and it remains a popular work in the violin repertoire. Savino was also known for his operas, which were performed in both the United States and Italy. His most famous opera, "La Fiamma," premiered in Milan in 1934 and was later performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. The opera tells the story of a woman who is accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death, and it features lush, romantic music that showcases Savino's gift for melody and orchestration. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Savino was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Juilliard School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, and he was known for his ability to inspire and mentor young musicians. Savino's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1945 at the age of 53. However, his contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated today. His music is known for its lush, romantic melodies and rich orchestration, and his legacy as a composer, conductor, and educator lives on.

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