Cesare Sodero
Encyclopedia
Cesare Sodero was an Italian
conductor who spent much of his career working in the United States
.
Born in Naples
, Sodero studied with Giuseppe Martucci
, and graduated from the Naples Conservatory at fourteen. He toured Europe
for a short time as a cellist before coming to the United States in 1906; for seven years he directed various American opera companies, including that in Chicago
, and tried to promote American interest in Italian symphonic music. In 1914 he became principal conductor at the New York Recording Department of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., commonly referred to as the Edison Phonograph Company. He contracted and conducted a wide variety of instrumental ensembles for Edison, principally focussing on band and orchestra selections. Alone of the musicians at Edison, Sodero had final say on repertoire he recorded, rather than Thomas Edison, and Sodero's instrumental recordings are some of the most colorful and imaginative of the entire acoustical recording era. Sodero also conducted the accompaniments for most of the operatic records made at Edison between 1915 and 1925, working with such luminaries as tenor Jacques Urlus
and soprano Claudia Muzio
. Sodero remained with Edison until 1925, when he turned to radio
. He achieved significance as a pioneer in the broadcast of opera
, directing a series of fifty-three works in tabloid form for NBC
in 1926. From then until 1934 he also conducted several hundred symphonic concerts for the network; he then became music director
for the Mutual network. From 1934 to 1947 he served as the conductor of the Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York. Having worked for most of his career in the relatively "invisible" fields of recording and radio, Sodero was surprisingly appointed as one of the principal conductors at the Metropolitan Opera
in 1942 on account of a wartime shortage of suitable conducting personnel in the Met's Italian wing. His Met debut, Aida
on November 28, was highly successful, and critics praised Sodero's precise, powerful, yet lyrical direction. He worked steadily and successfully with the company until his death.
Sodero also composed music, and wrote one opera during his career. Titled Ombre Russe, it was given its premiere
by NBC in 1929; the stage premiere took place in Venice
in 1930.
Sodero died in New York City
in 1947.
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...
conductor who spent much of his career working in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Born in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Sodero studied 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 graduated from the Naples Conservatory at fourteen. He toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for a short time as a cellist before coming to the United States in 1906; for seven years he directed various American opera companies, including that in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and tried to promote American interest in Italian symphonic music. In 1914 he became principal conductor at the New York Recording Department of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., commonly referred to as the Edison Phonograph Company. He contracted and conducted a wide variety of instrumental ensembles for Edison, principally focussing on band and orchestra selections. Alone of the musicians at Edison, Sodero had final say on repertoire he recorded, rather than Thomas Edison, and Sodero's instrumental recordings are some of the most colorful and imaginative of the entire acoustical recording era. Sodero also conducted the accompaniments for most of the operatic records made at Edison between 1915 and 1925, working with such luminaries as tenor Jacques Urlus
Jacques Urlus
Jacques Urlus , was a Dutch dramatic tenor. He sang to great critical acclaim at major opera houses on both sides of the Atlantic, and his recordings of the music of Richard Wagner are considered to be among the finest ever made.-Biography:Jacques Urlus was born to music-loving Dutch parents in the...
and soprano Claudia Muzio
Claudia Muzio
Claudia Muzio was an Italian operatic soprano, whose international career was among the most successful of the early 20th century.-Early years:...
. Sodero remained with Edison until 1925, when he turned to radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. He achieved significance as a pioneer in the broadcast of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, directing a series of fifty-three works in tabloid form for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 1926. From then until 1934 he also conducted several hundred symphonic concerts for the network; he then became music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
for the Mutual network. From 1934 to 1947 he served as the conductor of the Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York. Having worked for most of his career in the relatively "invisible" fields of recording and radio, Sodero was surprisingly appointed as one of the principal conductors at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in 1942 on account of a wartime shortage of suitable conducting personnel in the Met's Italian wing. His Met debut, Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
on November 28, was highly successful, and critics praised Sodero's precise, powerful, yet lyrical direction. He worked steadily and successfully with the company until his death.
Sodero also composed music, and wrote one opera during his career. Titled Ombre Russe, it was given its premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
by NBC in 1929; the stage premiere took place in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1930.
Sodero died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1947.