Adolfo Fumagalli


Adolfo Fumagalli was a 19th-century Italian virtuoso pianist and composer, known today primarily for his virtuosic compositions for the left hand alone.

Life

Born in Inzago, Italy, he grew up in a very musically oriented environment. He had three brothers who also became musicians and composers, these being Carlo, Luca, Disma and Polibio. Fumagalli stuided from 23 November 1837 to 7 September 1847 at the Milan Conservatory under Pietro Ray for counterpoint and Angeleri for piano. Afterwards in 1848, at the age of 20, made his Milan debut with some success. He had a series of popular concert tours throughout the major cities of Italy, France and Belgium until 1854. His greatest sensation when he began performing his compositions for left hand alone. He was among the first to make piano pieces for one hand, along with Alexander Dreyschoc. Although he looked rather frail, as is evident from paintings of him, he had a phenomenal technique and strong fingers that astonished everyone.In 1854 he returned to Italy, where he alternated between concert tours and composing. In 1856 he was given an Erard grand piano from the firm as an advertising promotion. later in the year on May 3, he passed away.
Fumagalli's output is quite extensive, though almost all of it is extremely difficult to obtain today. His works consist primarily of operatic fantasies and character pieces. One of his most difficult and virtuosic works is his Grande Fantasie sur Robert le Diable de Meyerbeer, op.106 for the left hand. He also composed an arrangement of Vincenzo Bellini's "Casta Diva" from Norma for the left hand. Almost his entire output is for solo piano and the works which employ other instruments all seem to include the piano in some way, a feature that is similar to Chopin's output. Although he was perhaps not a very inspired or ingenious composer, his works for left hand alone stand nonetheless as an important testament of the progress in technique and virtuosity of the period, especially of single-handed works.

Musical works

List of works:
  • Op. 1 Fantaisie on motives from Verdi's opera Nabuccodonosor for piano
  • Op. 2 Notturno-Studio for left hand
  • Op. 3 The Devil's Galop for piano
  • Op. 4a Reminiscences of Meyerbeer's opera Robert le Diable for piano
  • Op. 6 Tarantelle for piano
  • Op. 8 La fucina di Vulcano/ Il Canto dei Ciclopi : scherzo fantastique for piano
  • Op. 11 Caprice romantique for piano
  • Op. 12 Nocturne sentimentale in Ab Major for piano
  • Op. 13 Il genio della danza : scherzo brillant for piano
  • Op. 14 Grande fantaisie on motives from Bellini's La Sonnambula for piano
  • Op. 16 Pensée pathétique for piano
  • Op. 17 Nocturnino for piano
  • Op. 18
  • *No.1 Studio da Concerto based on Fra poco a me ricovero from Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor for left hand
  • *No.2 Studio da Concerto based on Coro O Signore del tetto natio from Verdi's opera I Lombardi for left hand
  • Op. 20 Les trois soeurs : petites fantaisies for piano
  • *No.1 Based on Verdi's opera Attila
  • *No.2 Based on Verdi's opera Foscari
  • *No.3 Based on Verdi's opera Ernani
  • Op. 21 Les clochettes : grande concerto fantastique pour piano avec l'accompagnement d'un grand orchestra et une campanella
  • Op. 23 Quatres airs de ballet variés from Verdi's opera Jérusalem for piano
  • *No.1 Pas de Quatre
  • *No.2 Pas de Deux
  • *No.3 Pas Seul
  • *No.4 Pas d'Ensemble
  • Op. 26 Grande Fantaisie Drammatique on motives from Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor for piano
  • Op. 27 Grande Caprice de Concert for piano
  • Op. 28 Grande Fantasie on Bellini's opera I Puritani from Rossini's opera Mosé in Egitto for left hand, also known as Studio Transcendentale
  • Op. 103 Cantique de Noel for piano
  • Op. 104 Berceuse for piano
  • Op. 105 L' Échange : ariette for piano
  • Op. 106 Grande Fantasie sur Robert le Diable de Meyerbeer for left hand
  • Op. 107 posth. Mon Ange : mélodie d'Auguste Morel transcrit pour piano
  • Op. 108 posth. Illustrations from Verdi's opera Giovanna de Guzman for piano
  • Op. 108 Premier Boléro
  • Op. 109 posth. Ariele : nocturne variée from Leoni's opera Suddetta for piano
  • Op. 110 Enfants, n'y touchez pas : romance for piano
  • Op. 111 Paraphrase on Buzzolla's barcarolle Tace il vento in ciel sereno for piano
  • Op. 112 posth. Duettino "Presso alla tomba" for piano
Also included in his output are several songs for voice and piano.