Gaspare Spontini, composer and conductor, was celebrated for his operas in the late 1700s and early 1800s, although he also composed several pieces of vocal chamber music at the same time. The chamber repertoire was composed with the amateur performer in mind: the tessitura of his melodies falls mostly within the medium/high range and does not call for any special techniques. This does not, howeve…

Par BERIO LUCIANO. The first of two piano duets from 1991, Canzonetta was written for the parents of Valentina Pagni, wife of Andrea Lucchesini. The latter would become Berio's 'pianist of choice,' with whom he worked closely on the major Sonata per pianoforte solo. This brief duet (duration under one minute) would appear on the album Piano Music of Luciano Berio, recorded by Lucchesini and Pagni.…