Alfredo Casella, born on July 25, 1883, in Turin, Italy, was an Italian composer, pianist, and conductor. He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris under Louis Diémer and Gabriel Fauré. Casella debuted as a conductor with his first symphony, Symphony No. 1 in B minor, Op. 5, in Monte Carlo in 1908. During World War I, he taught piano at the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia in Rome. From 1927 to 1929, Casella served as the principal conductor of the Boston Pops. He formed the Trio Italiano with Arturo Bonucci and Alberto Poltronieri in 1930, which performed extensively. Notable compositions include "A Notte Alta" and La Giara, a ballet set to a scenario by Luigi Pirandello. Casella also revived Antonio Vivaldi's works, organizing the historic Vivaldi Week in 1939. He died on March 5, 1947, in Rome.
