Alfonso Rendano was at the forefront of Italy’s instrumental composition renaissance in the late 19th-century but remains less well known than his near-contemporaries Giovanni Sgambati and Giuseppe Martucci. He was also a prominent pianist who performed with the illustrious violinist Joseph Joachim. The rhapsodic Piano Concerto, recorded here for the first time in its original edition, was premiered in a version for two pianos in which the composer was joined by Franz Liszt who called it ‘a vigorous, remarkable work, one I greatly appreciate’. The Allegro in A minor was rediscovered in 1969 and dates from Rendano’s artistic maturity. The Piano Concerto is performed in Vito Cristofaro’s edition and performed by him with Rendano’s leading contemporary exponent, Daniela Roma.

Daniela Roma is recognised as the leading interpreter of Alfonso Rendano’s work. As the artistic director of the Alfonso Rendano International Music Festival, held in Villa Rendano, Cosenza, Italy, she has recorded the world-premiere recording of piano works by Rendano, and the Quintet for piano and strings with the Modus String Quartet. For the Dynamic label, her recording of Alexander Scriabin’s piano works (CDS7984) received critical acclaim: ‘[Roma] is firmly among the big group of pianists who play Scriabin very well’ (American Record Guide).