FRANCESCO SANTOLIQUIDO (1883-1971): Violin and Piano: Sonata in A Minor, Chiarità Lunare, Rêverie, Trio Fantasia “La Favola di Helga” for Piano Trio, Aria Antica for Cello and Piano, Solo Piano: 2 Acqueforti Tunisine, Notturno, Piccola Ballata, Giardini Notturni, Ex Humo ad Sidera.

Description: Born in Naples in 1883 and trained in Rome, Santoliquido never espoused even the mild brand of modernism or the neoclassicism of contemporaries such as Casella, Malipiero and Pizzetti, and he issued diatribes against the evils and origins of modernism in the fascist press. Beyond the precepts of a classic-romantic style, then, the individual flavor of Santoliquido’s music owes something to his residence in Tunis during the 1910s, and subsequent support of a culture for classical music in north Africa, including the foundation of a concert society and music school in Tunis. Thus the piano music featured here includes a pair of Acqueforti Tunisine, as well as orientally scented nocturnes which were written for his wife to play. The album concludes with Ex Humo ad Sidera, a piece that describes mankind’s terrible struggle in rising from the dark, savage state towards Light. The main work here is a traditionally structured Violin Sonata in A minor with a turbulent opening movement, a languid and dreamy Andante and then a stormy finale. Mauro Torotelli (violin), Federica Del Bagno (cello), Angela Meluso (piano).