Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

July 7, 1899 in San Francisco, CA

Death

:

1980

 

Otto Cesana was a classical music composer who was born on December 23, 1899, in Trieste, Italy. He was the son of a musician and grew up in a musical family. His father, Carlo Cesana, was a composer and conductor, and his mother, Maria, was a singer. Otto showed an early interest in music and began studying piano at the age of six. Cesana's family moved to Vienna when he was a child, and he continued his musical education there. He studied piano with Theodor Leschetizky, a renowned piano teacher, and composition with Franz Schmidt, a prominent composer. Cesana also studied conducting with Felix Weingartner, a conductor who was known for his interpretations of Beethoven's symphonies. Cesana began his career as a pianist, performing in concerts throughout Europe. However, he soon turned his attention to composition and began writing music for the stage. His first opera, "Die Schöne und das Tier" (The Beauty and the Beast), was premiered in Vienna in 1923. The opera was well-received, and Cesana continued to write operas throughout his career. In the 1930s, Cesana moved to the United States and began working in Hollywood as a composer for film and television. He wrote music for a number of films, including "The Great Waltz" (1938), "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1939), and "The Mark of Zorro" (1940). Cesana also wrote music for television shows, including "The Lone Ranger" and "The Adventures of Robin Hood." Despite his success in Hollywood, Cesana continued to write classical music. He composed a number of symphonies, concertos, and chamber music works. One of his most famous works is his Piano Concerto No. 1, which was premiered in Vienna in 1929. The concerto is known for its virtuosic piano writing and its lush orchestration. Cesana's music is characterized by its romanticism and its use of lush harmonies and melodies. His music is often compared to that of Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler. Cesana was also influenced by the music of his native Italy, and his music often incorporates Italian folk melodies and rhythms. Cesana continued to compose music throughout his life, and he died on December 3, 1980, in Los Angeles, California. His music continues to be performed and recorded today, and he is remembered as one of the great composers of the 20th century.

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