Antonio Bazzini

Antonio Bazzini ( born March 11, 1818 in Brescia, † February 10, 1897 in Milan ) was an Italian composer and violinist.

Life and work

Antonio Bazzini was a student Faustino Camisanis and has performed publicly at the age of twelve years. He devoted himself to the composition initially, until he sponsored by Niccolò Paganini in 1842 undertook major professional tours, with whom he was also well known in Germany. Earned Bazzini also made by his efforts to introduce German instrumental music in Italy. From 1852 he lived in Paris, where he continued his concert tours. A final concert tour led him in 1864 by the Netherlands. In 1873 he became professor of composition at the Milan Conservatory, to his most important students included Pietro Mascagni and Giacomo Puccini. In 1882 he took over as head of the Conservatory.

He wrote several string quartets, concertos, overtures and symphonies, and the opera Jiranda (1865 ). For the excited Verdi Messa per Rossini Bazzini composed the third piece, Dies Irae. He also leaves behind one of the most important pieces of virtuoso violin literature, the dance of the Goblins, Op 25 ( " La ronde des Lutin ").