Cilèa, Francesco
Composer Information
Francesco Cilea (also Cilèa; Palmi, 23 July 1866 – Varazze, 20 November 1950) was an Italian composer. Today he is particularly known for his operas L'arlesiana and Adriana Lecouvreur. As a performer there is a number of examples of Cilea's art. At the piano Cilea accompanied (none too elegantly) Caruso in a recording of a part of the duet Non piu nobile and made another recording with the baritone De Luca at the same time (November 1902). In 1904 for the Gramophone (and Typewriter Company) he accompanied the tenor Fernando De Lucia in L'anima ho stanca from Adriana Lecouvreur and in the song Luntananza, an effort which critic Michael Henstock (in his biography of De Lucia) declares is hardly inspired by De Lucia's fine performances. Even given the crude recording techniques of the day Cilea's piano playing (put charitably) seems square and lifeless. (see Henstock). [source from Wikipedia]
Work
