Ottorino Respighi

Born: July 9th 1897 – Bologna, Italy
Died: April 18th 1936 – Rome Italy

A few facts about Ottorino Respighi

In 1900, Respighi started his career as principal violist in the Russian Imperial Theatre Orchestra, Saint Petersburg. He later studied orchestration with composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. In 1902 he also took composition lessons with Max Bruch in Berlin.
He held the position of Composition professor at Rome’s Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia from 1917 until his death in 1936. As a musicologist he was devoted to early Italian music. Much of what he had unearthed was incorporated into his compositions including today’s piece – Ancient Airs and Dances Suite No. 3.
He had a very uneasy relationship with Mussolini’s Fascist Party and on more than one occasion defended more outspoken critics such as conductor Arturo Toscanini.
His wife, Elsa Respighi, (neé Olivieri-Sangiacomo) (1894-1996) was a former pupil. She was a singer, composer, and tireless champion of his work. After his death she completed Lucrezia, his final opera. In his centennial year she oversaw performances and recordings of many of his long-neglected works.