Born in
Naples, Alfredo d'Ambrosio is the author of the opera ''Pia de' Tolomei'', based on
Dante Alighieri's
Divine Comedy, the ballet
Hersilia, two violin concertos, a string quartet in c minor, Op. 42 (1908) and a quintet, as well as various concert pieces for violin and piano, which had a certain popularity in the early 20th century. His first violin concerto (in B minor, Op. 29, dedicated to
Arrigo Serato) was written from April to October 1903 and premiered in Berlin, at the presence of the Emperor, on 29 October 1904, with Berlin Philharmonic conducted by
August Scharrer. The second violin concerto (in G minor, Op. 51, dedicated to
Jacques Thibaud) was premiered by
Georges Enesco on 6 April 1913 in Paris, Salle Gaveau, conducted by the composer. His best-known work is his
Canzonetta, Op. 6, which he recorded in 1907. More recordings of this piece were made in 1914 by Alexander Petschnikoff (1873–1948), in 1921 by
Mischa Elman, and in 1924 by
Toscha Seidel and
Georg Kulenkampff. In addition, there is also his
Serenade, Op. 4 recorded in 1919 by
Jascha Heifetz and by
George Enescu in 1924,
Madrigale op.26 by
Karl Grigorowicz in 1909,
Serenata op.40 by
Efrem Zimbalist in 1917 and by
Wolfgang Schneiderhan in 1990,
Aubade op.17 and
Nocturne op.35 by
Christeta Goñi in 1912,
Romance Op.9 by
Renée Chemet,
Bronislaw Mittman,
Jan Kubelik;
Novelletta op.20 by
Leon Zighera,
Introduction et Humoresque Op.25 by
Sasha Jacobsen in 1914,
A ton reveil by
Alfred Dubois. Alfredo d'Ambrosio himself recorded on '78 rpm records APGA these pieces:
Chanson napolitaine Op. 37,
Sonnet allègre Op.35,
Humoresque op.25,
Ariette Op.23,
Romance Op.9,
Mélancolie Op.37,
Aria Op.22 (dedicated to Jan Kubelik),
Canzonetta Op.6,
Seconda Canzonetta-Little Song Op.28. Both his Violin Concertos were performed and recorded on a DVD Achord Pictures in Lucca, on 7 October 2018 (soloists Laura Bortolotto and Christian Sebastianutto, conductor Alan Freiles). Both Violin Concertos are on
NAXOS Videolibrary.
Jean-Jacques Kantorow and
Orchestre de Douai conducted by
Arie van Beck recorded both "Violin Concertos" by
d’Ambrosio in 2021 and 2022-cd "Soupir éditions" S256, together with "First and Second Canzonetta","Romance","Introduction et Humoresque","Sérénade", for Violin and Piano (pianist
Haruko Ueda). 13 pieces for Violins and Piano, dedicated by their Author to famous musicians or friends, were recorded in December 2021 in Hungary (Gödollö) by Lucilla Rose Mariotti-violin- and Zsuzsanna Homor-piano, on a DVD Achord Pictures. The complete list of Alfredo d'Ambrosio compositions for Violin and Piano has been recorded on 3 cds by Gran Duo Italiano (Mauro Tortorelli violin and Angela Meluso piano) for Brilliant Classics in 2022. ==References==