Leader, Philip Whiteway
Conductor, Walton O'Donnell
During the greater part of the nineteenth century Italian instrumental music was completely eclipsed by Italian opera. The line of Corelli and Vivaldi and Domenico Scarlatti seemed to be extinct. The revival of Italian instrumental music towards the end of the century was almost entirely due to two composers: Giuseppe Martucci (1856-1909) and Giovanni Sgambati (1843-1914).
Martucci was a friend of British music and introduced the work of Parry and Stanford in Italy. In return his music was often played in England. His First Symphony, which is being played this afternoon, was performed at the Royal College of Music in 1898.