Enrico Toselli
Encyclopedia
Enrico Toselli was an Italian
pianist
and composer
. He studied the piano with Giovanni Sgambati
and composition with Giuseppe Martucci
and Reginaldo Grazzini. At a very early age he started on a brilliant career as a concert pianist in Italy, the principal European capitals and also in Alexandria and North America. Later he settled in Florence, teaching and composing, while still appearing frequently on the concert platform. He composed a number of songs, of which the Serenata 'Rimpianto' Op.6 No.1 was the most popular. He also wrote two operettas, La cattiva Francesca (1912) and La principessa bizzarra (1913).
Although a successful performer and composer, Toselli's prodigious fame was largely due to the international scandal occasioned by his marriage to the former Crown Princess of Saxony, Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess Luise, Princess of Tuscany
in 1907. She had previously deserted her husband, Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
, years earlier. Toselli and the Archduchess' marriage was not a happy one, and they separated in 1912. They had one son together, Carlo Emanuele Toselli (7 May 1908 - 1969). Toselli used his fame as the ex-husband of such an illustrious woman to good effect by writing a successful book of memoirs, Mari d’altesse: 4 ans de mariage avec Louise de Toscane, ex-princesse de Saxe.
The international scandal occasioned by the marriage of the former Crown Princess of Saxony, Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess Luise, Princess of Tuscany and Enrico Toselli is best understood in the context of the historical and cultural changes occurring across Europe during the transition from rigid monarchical systems to modern nations in which major changes in the socio-economic structure were also brought on by the industrial revolution.
Enrico Toselli wrote his memoir Mari d’altesse: 4 ans de mariage avec Louise de Toscane, ex-princesse de Saxe (Albin Michel Éditeur, Paris), translated into Italian by Paolo Reni as Il mio matrimonio con Luisa di Sassonia (Societa' Editrice Italiana, Milano). Luise of Tuscany also published her memoir La mia storia (Societa' Editrice Italiana, Milano). Their personal memoirs highlight the individual stories of Enrico Toselli and Louise of Tuscany converging through marriage as they evolve from different backgrounds and different paths, après Révolution Nice and the Court of Saxony, respectively. Their personal stories reflect the dramatic changes occurring at the time, as their existence was not independent of, and freed from, the socio-cultural expressions of the new era. In this perspective, the story of their marriage should be perceived as a symbol of an era of socio-cultural expansion in which rigid conventions were outdated, the structure of society loosened, and its boundaries broadened. A century has elapsed and we still cherish the memory of Luise of Tuscany and Enrico Toselli by acknowledging their contribution to modern history.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He studied the piano with Giovanni Sgambati
Giovanni Sgambati
Giovanni Sgambati was an Italian composer.Born to an Italian father and an English mother, Sgambati, who lost his father early, received his early education at Trevi, in Umbria, where he wrote some church music and obtained experience as a singer and conductor...
and composition with Giuseppe Martucci
Giuseppe Martucci
Giuseppe Martucci was an Italian composer, conductor, pianist and teacher. As a composer and teacher he was influential in reviving Italian interest in non-operatic music. As a conductor he helped to introduce Richard Wagner's operas to Italy and also gave important early concerts of English music...
and Reginaldo Grazzini. At a very early age he started on a brilliant career as a concert pianist in Italy, the principal European capitals and also in Alexandria and North America. Later he settled in Florence, teaching and composing, while still appearing frequently on the concert platform. He composed a number of songs, of which the Serenata 'Rimpianto' Op.6 No.1 was the most popular. He also wrote two operettas, La cattiva Francesca (1912) and La principessa bizzarra (1913).
Although a successful performer and composer, Toselli's prodigious fame was largely due to the international scandal occasioned by his marriage to the former Crown Princess of Saxony, Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess Luise, Princess of Tuscany
Archduchess Luise, Princess of Tuscany
Luise of Tuscany was a daughter of Ferdinand IV of Tuscany and his second wife, Alice of Bourbon-Parma, daughter of Duke Charles III and Louise...
in 1907. She had previously deserted her husband, Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
This article is about King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. For the elector Frederick Augustus III, see Frederick Augustus I of Saxony.Frederick Augustus III was the last King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin.Born in Dresden, Frederick Augustus was the son of King George of Saxony...
, years earlier. Toselli and the Archduchess' marriage was not a happy one, and they separated in 1912. They had one son together, Carlo Emanuele Toselli (7 May 1908 - 1969). Toselli used his fame as the ex-husband of such an illustrious woman to good effect by writing a successful book of memoirs, Mari d’altesse: 4 ans de mariage avec Louise de Toscane, ex-princesse de Saxe.
The international scandal occasioned by the marriage of the former Crown Princess of Saxony, Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess Luise, Princess of Tuscany and Enrico Toselli is best understood in the context of the historical and cultural changes occurring across Europe during the transition from rigid monarchical systems to modern nations in which major changes in the socio-economic structure were also brought on by the industrial revolution.
Enrico Toselli wrote his memoir Mari d’altesse: 4 ans de mariage avec Louise de Toscane, ex-princesse de Saxe (Albin Michel Éditeur, Paris), translated into Italian by Paolo Reni as Il mio matrimonio con Luisa di Sassonia (Societa' Editrice Italiana, Milano). Luise of Tuscany also published her memoir La mia storia (Societa' Editrice Italiana, Milano). Their personal memoirs highlight the individual stories of Enrico Toselli and Louise of Tuscany converging through marriage as they evolve from different backgrounds and different paths, après Révolution Nice and the Court of Saxony, respectively. Their personal stories reflect the dramatic changes occurring at the time, as their existence was not independent of, and freed from, the socio-cultural expressions of the new era. In this perspective, the story of their marriage should be perceived as a symbol of an era of socio-cultural expansion in which rigid conventions were outdated, the structure of society loosened, and its boundaries broadened. A century has elapsed and we still cherish the memory of Luise of Tuscany and Enrico Toselli by acknowledging their contribution to modern history.
Sources
- Francesco Bussi. The New Grove Dictionary of OperaNew Grove Dictionary of OperaThe New Grove Dictionary of Opera is an encyclopedia of opera, considered to be one of the best general reference sources on the subject. It is the largest work on opera in English, and in its printed form, amounts to 5,448 pages in four volumes....
, edited by Stanley Sadie (1992). ISBN 0-333-73432-7 and ISBN 1-56159-228-5
- Luisa di Toscana. La mia storia, Societa' Editrice Italiana, Milano (1911).
- Enrico Toselli. Mari d’altesse: 4 ans de mariage avec Louise de Toscane, ex-princesse de Saxe, Albin Michel Éditeur, Paris (1912).
- Enrico Toselli. Il mio matrimonio con Luisa di Sassonia, Italian translation by Paolo Reni, Societa' Editrice Italiana, Milano (1912).
- Leonardo Previero. Enrico Toselli, Il musicista della Serenata, Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze (1997).