Adalgiso Ferraris

Adalgiso Ferraris (16 February 1890– 31 December 1968) was an Italian-born British composer and pianist. Ferraris' compositions were based on classical and popular genres, with a particular flavour of gypsy, Hungarian and Russian traditionals. Among his best known melodies are the romantic Russian song "Dark Eyes", "Calinerie", "Souvenir d'Ukraine", "the Russian Pedlar" , "Two guitars" and "A Balalaika"

Biography

Early life

Ferraris was born in Novara, in Piedmont, North of Italy. He went on to study at the Regia Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna, Italy, and studied piano and music composition with Manfredi and Crescentino.

Russian experience

In 1910 Ferraris travelled to Russia to study with Tchevnioroshy in St. Petersburg. Here he supported his studies playing during the capital's last years of the "belle Epoque" nightlife.

He developed his skills particularly in the piccolo concerto and especially in Tzigane music. In 1912 he became pianist in an orchestra which also played at Tsarskoye Selo.