ALFONSO CASTALDI (1874-1942)
Born in Maddaloni, Italy. He studied with Francesco Cilèa and Umberto Giordiano at the Milan Conservatory. He moved to Romania in 1896 and remained there for the rest of his life. First he taught the guitar and the violin in Galaţi and then taught composition and music theory at the Bucharest Conservatory. He composed operas, orchestral, chamber, instrumental, vocal and choral works. He wrote his Symphony No.1 in E minor in 1916.
Composition: Simfonia "Eroul fara glorie" (1925) (reduced volume) Symphony No. 2, "The Hero Without Glory" (1925)
Orchestra: Cluj-Napoca Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Emil Simon, conductor
Part I: "Fra il bene e il male" (Allegro) 18'-29"
Part II-a: "Fra il tutto e il nulla" (Andante un poco lento) 13'-27"
Part III-a: "Fra la vita e la morte" (Presto) 10'-56"
