Victor Alessandro
Encyclopedia
Victor Nicholas Alessandro (27 November 1915 – 27 November 1976) was an orchestra conductor and long-time resident of San Antonio, Texas
. Born in Waco, Texas
, he studied at the Eastman School of Music
in Rochester, New York
. Alessandro also spent a number of years in Italy during his youth where he studied with Ildebrando Pizzetti. Alessandro served as the conductor of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra from 1950 until 1976. He conducted operatic performances as well, bringing the work of his favorites Giuseppe Verdi
and Giacomo Puccini
to San Antonio audiences. He made numerous recordings of classical music in the 1950s and early 1960s, including the first complete recording of Debussy's Le martyre de Saint Sébastien
with the Oklahoma City Symphony (Allegro Elite Long Playing Record, 1952, Mono). He and his wife Ruth lived for many years on Garraty Road in Terrell Hills
, a suburb of San Antonio.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. Born in Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, he studied at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. Alessandro also spent a number of years in Italy during his youth where he studied with Ildebrando Pizzetti. Alessandro served as the conductor of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra from 1950 until 1976. He conducted operatic performances as well, bringing the work of his favorites Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
and Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire...
to San Antonio audiences. He made numerous recordings of classical music in the 1950s and early 1960s, including the first complete recording of Debussy's Le martyre de Saint Sébastien
Le martyre de Saint Sébastien
Le martyre de Saint Sébastien, L 124 is a musical work by the French composer Claude Debussy.Written in 1911, the work—a five-act musical mystery play on the subject of Saint Sebastian -- was produced in collaboration with Gabriele d'Annunzio and designed as a vehicle for Ida Rubinstein...
with the Oklahoma City Symphony (Allegro Elite Long Playing Record, 1952, Mono). He and his wife Ruth lived for many years on Garraty Road in Terrell Hills
Terrell Hills, Texas
Terrell Hills is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States, located five miles northeast of downtown San Antonio. It is part of a group of three cities — Terrell Hills, Alamo Heights, and Olmos Park — located between downtown San Antonio and Fort Sam Houston...
, a suburb of San Antonio.
External links
- Oral history interview - Archives of American Art