Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

January 12, 1876 in Venice, Italy

Death

:

January 21, 1948 in Venice, Italy

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari was an Italian composer of classical music who was born on January 12, 1876, in Venice, Italy. He was the son of a German painter, August Wolf, and an Italian mother, Emilia Ferrari. Wolf-Ferrari's parents separated when he was young, and he was raised by his mother in Venice. Wolf-Ferrari showed an early interest in music and began studying piano and composition at a young age. He studied at the Venice Conservatory and later at the Munich Academy of Music, where he was a student of Joseph Rheinberger. Wolf-Ferrari's early works were influenced by German Romanticism, but he later developed a style that blended Italian and German musical traditions. His music was characterized by its lyricism, clarity, and elegance. Wolf-Ferrari's first major success came with his opera "Le donne curiose" (The Curious Women), which premiered in 1903. The opera was based on a play by Carlo Goldoni and was a comic portrayal of the lives of Venetian women. The opera was a critical and commercial success and established Wolf-Ferrari as a major composer. Wolf-Ferrari went on to compose several more operas, including "I quattro rusteghi" (The Four Ruffians), "Il segreto di Susanna" (Susanna's Secret), and "Sly" (based on the play "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare). His operas were known for their wit, charm, and melodic beauty. In addition to his operas, Wolf-Ferrari also composed instrumental music, including symphonies, concertos, and chamber music. His instrumental works were less well-known than his operas but were still highly regarded by critics and audiences. Wolf-Ferrari's music fell out of favor after World War II, as modernist composers gained popularity. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in his music, and his operas have been performed more frequently. Wolf-Ferrari died on January 21, 1948, in Venice, Italy. He left behind a legacy of beautiful and charming music that continues to be enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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