Adolfo Fumagalli

Adolfo Fumagalli (19 October 18283 May 1856) was a 19th-century Italian virtuoso pianist and composer, known today primarily for his virtuosic compositions for the left hand alone.

Life Born in Inzago, Italy, he grew up in a very musically oriented environment. He had three brothers who also became musicians and composers, these being Carlo (1822–1907), Luca (1837–1908), Disma (1826–1893) and Polibio (1830–1901). Fumagalli stuided from 23 November 1837 to 7 September 1847 at the Milan Conservatory under Pietro Ray for counterpoint and Angeleri for piano. Afterwards in 1848, at the age of 20, made his Milan debut with some success. He had a series of popular concert tours throughout the major cities of Italy, France and Belgium until 1854. His greatest sensation when he began performing his compositions for left hand alone. He was among the first to make piano pieces for one hand, along with Alexander Dreyschoc. Although he looked rather frail, as is evident from paintings of him, he had a phenomenal technique and strong fingers that astonished everyone. In 1854 he returned to Italy, where he alternated between concert tours and composing. In 1856 he was given an Erard grand piano from the firm as an advertising promotion. later in the year on May 3, he passed away.

Fumagalli's output is quite extensive, though almost all of it is extremely difficult to obtain today. His works consist primarily of operatic fantasies and character pieces. One of his most difficult and virtuosic works is his Grande Fantasie sur Robert le Diable de Meyerbeer, op.106 (dedicated to Liszt) for the left hand. He also composed an arrangement of Vincenzo Bellini's "Casta Diva" from Norma for the left hand. Almost his entire output is for solo piano and the works which employ other instruments all seem to include the piano in some way, a feature that is similar to Chopin's output. Although he was perhaps not a very inspired or ingenious composer, his works for left hand alone stand nonetheless as an important testament of the progress in technique and virtuosity of the period, especially of single-handed works.

Musical works Adolfo Fumagalli smoking a cigar while playing. Judging by the devils around his hand, he is probably playing his Robert le Diable Fantasy.List of works: Op. 1 Fantaisie on motives from Verdi's opera Nabuccodonosor for piano Op. 2 Notturno-Studio for left hand Op. 3 The Devil's Galop for piano Op. 4a Reminiscences of Meyerbeer's opera Robert le Diable for piano Op. 6 Tarantelle for piano Op. 8 La fucina di Vulcano/ Il Canto dei Ciclopi : scherzo fantastique for piano Op. 11 Caprice romantique for piano Op. 12 Nocturne sentimentale in Ab Major for piano Op. 13 Il genio della danza : scherzo brillant for piano Op. 14 Grande fantaisie on motives from Bellini's La Sonnambula for piano Op. 16 Pensée pathétique for piano Op. 17 Nocturnino for piano Op. 18 No.1 Studio da Concerto based on Fra poco a me ricovero from Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor for left hand No.2 Studio da Concerto based on Coro O Signore del tetto natio from Verdi's opera I Lombardi for left hand Op. 20 Les trois soeurs : petites fantaisies for piano No.1 Based on Verdi's opera Attila No.2 Based on Verdi's opera Foscari No.3 Based on Verdi's opera Ernani Op. 21 Les clochettes : grande concerto fantastique pour piano avec l'accompagnement d'un grand orchestra et une campanella Op. 23 Quatres airs de ballet variés from Verdi's opera Jérusalem for piano No.1 Pas de Quatre No.2 Pas de Deux No.3 Pas Seul No.4 Pas d'Ensemble Op. 26 Grande Fantaisie Drammatique on motives from Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor for piano Op. 27 Grande Caprice de Concert for piano Op. 28 Grande Fantasie on Bellini's opera I Puritani (Dedicated to his brother Polibio for piano Op. 29 Nenna : Tarantella Giocosa for piano Op. 30 Grande Fantaisie on Bellini's opera Norma for piano Op. 31 Petit morceau de salon on Verdi's opera Macbeth for piano Op. 32 Petit morceau de salon on Verdi's opera La Battaglia di Legnano for piano Op. 33 La pendule : caprice fantastique contenant un galop-carillon et un polka-mazurka for piano Op. 34 Petite Fantaisie on Verdi's opera Lucrezia Borgia for piano Op. 35 Petite Fantaisie on Donizetti's opera Elisir d'amore for piano Op. 36 Beatrice di tenda : petit morceau de salon for piano Op. 37 Souvenir de Nice : polka-caprice for piano Op. 38 Nocturne: Une Nuit d'Été, passetemps sentimental for piano Op. 39 Amorosa : mazurka sentimentale for piano Op. 40 La capricciosa : Tyrolienne for piano Op. 41 Morceau de salon : chanson espagnole from Rossi's opera Il domino nero for piano Op. 42 Morceau de salon on Rossi's opera Il domino nero for piano Op. 43 Le prophete : grande fantaisie de bravoure for piano Op. 44 La serenade espagnole : morceau elegant for piano Op. 45 Fantaisie on Bonoldi's opera Nera Orientale for piano Op. 47 Le Postillon : galop de concert for piano Op. 48 Le Ruisseau : etude impromptu for piano Op. 49 Grande Marche cosaque on a national air for piano Op. 50 Serenade napolitaine for piano Op. 51 Le Streghe : pièce fantastique for piano Op. 52 Musical Recreations: two divertimenti for piano on motives from Verdi's opera Luisa Miller No.1 Premier Divertimento No.2 Deuxième Divertimento Op. 53 Esprits Folles : saltarelle for piano Op. 54 Fantaisie on Donizetti's opera Linda de Chamounix for piano Op. 55 Stabat Mater by Rossini for piano Op. 56 Fantaisie on Bellini's opera La Straniera for piano Op. 57 Si loin! : Mélody by Paul Henrion variée for piano Op. 58 Luisa : polka de concert for piano Op. 59 Fantaisie on a melody from Verdi's opera Stiffelio Op. 60 Grande Fantaisie Militaire for piano No.1 Ronda Notturna for piano No.2 Una notte al campo for piano No.3 Signal d'alarme et conflit de guerre from Bellini's opera Norma for piano No.4 Marcia funèbre for piano No.5 Inno trionfale from Rossini's opera Le Siège de Corinthe for piano No.6 Orgia for piano Op. 60 Grande Fantaisie Militaire transcribed for four hands by the author Op. 61 Casta diva from Bellini's opera Norma for left hand Op. 62 La sacrilega parola : Variations on the Grande Adagio Finale from the 2nd act of Donizetti's opera Poliuto for piano Op. 63 Souvenir de Chopin : mazurka for piano Op. 64 La Derelitta : pensée romantique for piano Op. 65 La festa dell'innocenza : cinque morceaux brillants for piano Op. 66 Fantasie brillante on motives from Donizetti's opera Poliuto for piano Op. 68 Introduction et Grande Nocturne on Sanelli's opera Il Fornaretto for piano Op. 69 La Baccante : caprice burlesque for piano Op. 70 Sogno d'amore : pensée fugitive for piano Op. 71 Morceau de Salon : caprice on Chiaromonte's opera Il Gondoliero for piano Op. 72 Fantaisie Brillante on Verdi's opera I Due Foscari for piano Op. 73 Nocturne variée on the romanza Fior di bonta bell'angelo from Villanis's opera La Regina di Leone for piano Op. 74 Fantaisie Brillante on Verdi's opera Ernani for piano Op. 75 I Lombardi alla prima Crociata : introduction et grande adagio variées sur la terzette "Qual volutta trascorrere" for piano Op. 76 Laura : polonaise de concert for piano Op. 77 Saluto al Tamigi : deuxième polka de concert, capriccio-impromptu for piano Op. 78 Un lamento : deuxième mazurka sentimentale for piano Op. 79 L' Absence : romance variée for piano Op. 80 La Chasse : morceau brillant for piano Op. 81 Grande Ouverture de Benvenuto Cellini par Hector Berlioz : transcrite pour piano Op. 82 Nocturne elegant for piano Op. 83 La danse des sylphes, de Felix Godefroid : rondo brillant for piano Op. 84 Grande Fantaisie on Bellini's opera I Puritani for two pianos Op. 85 Preghiera alla Madonna "O Santissima Vergine" : Popular Tuscan song by L. Gordigiani transcribed for piano Op. 86 L' Étincelle : reverie de F. Bonoldi variée pour piano Op. 87 La buena ventura : chanson andalouse de Yradier variée for piano Op. 88 La cloche : mélodie de F. Bonoldi variée pour piano Op. 89 Introduction et adagio varié on the romanza "Sempre all'alba ed alla sera" from the opera Giovanna d'Arco for piano Op. 90 Le Palmier : polka des magots for piano Op. 91 Fantaisie on Verdi's Nabucodonosor for piano Op. 92 Paraphrase on the barcarolle Una Barchetta in Mar from Donizetti's opera Gianni di Calais for piano Op. 94 Paraphrase on the Grande adagio finale from Coccia's opera La solitaria delle Asturie for piano Op. 95 Un carnaval de plus, souvenir de Venice : Caprice de Concert for piano Op. 95b Fantaisie on Verdi's opera Il Trovatore for piano Op. 98 Fantaisie on Verdi's opera La Traviata for piano Op. 100 École Moderne du Pianiste : recueil de 24 morceaux caracteristiques for piano Op. 101 Tarantelle de bravoure on Thomas's opera La Tonelli for piano Op. 102 Mi mancha la voce (Andante) from Rossini's opera Mosé in Egitto for left hand, also known as Studio Transcendentale Op. 103 Cantique de Noel for piano Op. 104 Berceuse for piano Op. 105 L' Échange : ariette for piano Op. 106 Grande Fantasie sur Robert le Diable de Meyerbeer (Dedicated to Franz Liszt) for left hand Op. 107 posth. Mon Ange : mélodie d'Auguste Morel transcrit pour piano Op. 108 posth. Illustrations from Verdi's opera Giovanna de Guzman (I Vespri Siciliani) for piano Op. 108 Premier Boléro Op. 109 posth. Ariele : nocturne variée from Leoni's opera Suddetta for piano Op. 110 Enfants, n'y touchez pas : romance for piano Op. 111 Paraphrase on Buzzolla's barcarolle Tace il vento in ciel sereno for piano Op. 112 posth. Duettino "Presso alla tomba" (the author's last work) for piano

Also included in his output are several songs for voice and piano.