Leandro Campanari

Leandro Campanari (October 20, 1859 – April 22, 1939) was an Italian violinist, conductor, composer and music teacher, At 15, he entered the Conservatory of Music in Milan and studied the violin, harmony, counterpoint and conducting with the most eminent teachers of that institution. He graduated at 19 to go to England with an orchestra, where he had a very successful season. He then toured Italy and France as a virtuoso before establishing his role as a conductor. They married in 1880.

Boston Symphony Orchestra In 1881, he moved to America as a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and featured in many concerts throughout the United States. He returned to Europe, but then back to America, where he remained for three years as the head of the Violin School at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He also assumed the direction of the music at the Church of the Immaculate Conception and brought out many important sacred works for the first time in that city.

Campanari String Quartet After his service in Boston, Campanari returned to Italy in 1886 and formed the Campanari String Quartet, which toured with great success for two years. During that time many notable composers, including Puccini, Catalani, Sgambati, Bazzini, Arturo Vanbianchi, Frugatta, Bossi and Guglielmo Andreoli the Younger composed music especially for the Campanari Quartet.

He returned to the United States in 1890 to become professor of violin at the Cincinnati College of Music, succeeding Schradieck, and remained in that position for six years.

Returning to Italy in 1896, he divided his time between Milan, Paris and London. and the cycle of Beethoven symphonies at the Lyric Theatre in Milan. The orchestra then went on tour, meeting with pronounced success. The next important engagement of Campanari and his orchestra was in London, at the Imperial Institute, for a long and very successful season of nearly four months.

Hammerstein's Opera Company In 1907, he appeared in New York City as one of the opera conductors of Hammerstein's Opera Company. He also conducted the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra for a short time. With the same organization he appeared in Reading, Trenton, Wilmington, Washington and Baltimore for performances of Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony". He also conducted in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Owing to the serious illness of his wife, Persis Bell, an American lady and once a violinist of note, Campanari removed to California, but after her recovery, he resumed his work as a virtuoso and a conductor. was one of the executors of the estate of Verdi. Leandro wrote an intimate piece about his relationship with the master for The Etude (1910). He taught both violin and voice.

Works Campanari composed many English songs and three text-books for violin playing.