Rosario Scalero (1870-1954) was born in Moncalieri, Italy. As a young boy he studied the violin at the Oratorio San Filippo in Turin, after which he went to Genoa to study with Camillo Sivori, Paganini’s only acknowledged pupil. He then embarked on “years of wandering” around Europe, performing and meeting important composers like Gustav Mahler and Eusebius Mandyczewski. After WWII he accepted a post at the Mannes School of Music in New York. Soon his fame as a composition teacher spread and he was invited to the prestigious Curtis Institute, where his pupils included Samuel Barber, Nino Rota and Gian Carlo Menotti.

This 3-CD set presents the complete works for violin and piano by Scalero: a substantial violin sonata and sets of Character Pieces and Dances. His style might be described as Italo-Brahmsian: rich harmonic language and a strong melodic appeal characterize his works, a serious talent blazing under the Italian sun. Played with deep understanding and obvious love by the Gran Duo Italiano, featuring violinist Mauro Tortorelli and pianist Angela Meluso, who already successfully recorded works by Saint-Saëns, Milhaud and Castelnuovo-Tedesco for Brilliant Classics.