Alfredo CATALANI
1854 — 1893
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In Sogno From Impresioni, a collection of 9 piano pieces by Catalani
Catalani was an Italian composer, a contemporary of Puccini. He died of tuberculosis at a comparatively young age, and nowadays is chiefly remembered for just one opera — Le Wally..

Toscanini was a friend, and a great admirer of Catalani's music. A recent BBC documentary about Toscanini quoted him as saying that Puccini was very jealous of Catalani's ability to produce wonderful melodies.  But this may have been an excuse to be rude about Puccini whom Toscanini described as being incapable of writing an original tune.

In Sogno was evidently a particular favourite of Toscanini's: he said that he played it at least once a week.  I hope that you will enjoy the melody too. 
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