Alfredo Napoleão: Piano Concerto No. 2 in E-flat minor, Op. 31

Alfredo Napoleão

(1852 - 1917)

was the youngest of three Napoleão siblings, the others being Arthur Napoleão (1843–1925), and Aníbal Napoleão (1845–1880).

Piano Concerto No. 2 in E-flat minor, Op. 31  

I. Andantino maestoso 0:00
II. Scherzo: Allegro vivace - Più lento - Tempo I 16:55
III. Allegro - Più vivo 20:53

Artur Pizzaro, piano
The Ulster Orchestra
Adrian Leaper, conductor

All the three were pianists and composers. Their parents were Portugal, Alexandre Napoleão (a musician himself) and Joaquina Maria dos Santos. The latter died, when Alfredo was only a year old. The father worked in London, and Alfredo spent his childhood with his maternal grandmother in Porto, his birthplace. In 1858 he was brought to London to study with a certain Professor Wood. This studies continued up to 1868, when he went to Brazil, like his two brothers. In 1869 he gave his debut recital in Rio de Janeiro, with great success. He made an extensive tour through the country and settled in Buenos Aires, and then in Montevideo, where he taught piano. In 1879 he was again in Rio and for some years toured the northern parts of Brazil. At that time he was at the height of his fame. Returning to Portugal in 1882, he gave concerts in Lisbon and Porto, then London and Paris. In 1889 he went to Brazil again and made a tour through the entire continent. In 1891 he returned to Porto. Alfredo Napoleão was a great interpreter of Bach, Beethoven and Schumann.