Albinoni / Giazotto: Adagio in G minor

Apart from the fact that at some point in his life he got married, little is known about the baroque composer born in Venice, Tomaso Albinoni, quite well-known today because of a work not belonging to him. The author of chamber music and about fifty operas successfully performed during his long life, he was the son of a wealthy paper merchant in Venice. As a result of his birth in a golden cradle, unlike other musicians of his time, he had no need to go to a church or noble court to offer his services as a choirmaster or court musician.

So much so, that before the publication of his sonatas for violin Op.6 (c.1712) Albinoni used to sign his works with the title of diletantte, that is, one who performs an activity for the simple pleasure (diletto) of doing it. But from this date onwards, Albinoni began to sign as "musico di violino", a title responding to a sort of "professionalization" of his career. In addition, the collection of these sonatas were published under the collective title of Trattenimenti armonici per camera, which we suppose would not bear a "dilettante" as an author, even at that time or in the sense meant above.

The bombing of Dresden

Tomaso Albinoni (1671 - 1751)

It is argued that the scarce current knowledge of his work and life is a consequence of the bombing of Dresden during World War II. A large part of Albinoni’s production, as well as biographical data, were documented in archives of the State Library of that city. Not even a trace was left of the Library after the bombings, not to mention the entire city.

Giazotto enters the scene
From this ominous circumstance, nonetheless, the Italian musicologist Remo Giazotto along with the publisher Ricordi took advantage in 1958. Giazotto claimed to have received some fragments rescued from the ruins of the Library, allegedly belonging to the slow movement of a trio sonata by Tomaso Albinoni. On the basis of a few measures, Giazotto composed the work we know today, being launched on the market by Ricordi as "Adagio di Albinoni, arranged by Remo Giazotto", the last words in fine prints. To this day nobody has seen the fragments rescued from among the ruins. What's more, the Dresden Library claims not to have them in its catalog.

But the piece is beautiful (from here we greet you, Remo) and has earned its fame from its first inception. Widely used in popular culture as a musical background in films, advertising and television programs, there are also sang versions from Camilo Sesto and Sarah Brightman, among others.
The rendition is by the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, recorded in a basilica in a Hungarian town.

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