Giuseppe Anedda (born on March 1, 1912) was an Italian mandolin virtuoso and professor from Cagliari. Anedda switched from violin to mandolin due to financial constraints and was nicknamed “Pippo” as a child prodigy. He joined the group Quartetto Karalis and won music competitions in 1938 and 1939 while serving in the police. In 1941, Anedda joined the Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche. In 1948, Anedda performed the premiere of Vivaldi’s “Concert for two mandolins” and later won a soloist award from the Academy Vivaldiana Brussels. Anedda directed the Collegium Italicum (1952–1968) and performed in Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Agon (1968). He taught at the Manhattan School of Music and established the first mandolin chair at the Conservatory Pollini of Padua, retiring in 1980. Anedda rediscovered historical manuscripts by Vivaldi and Beethoven and received a gold medal from the Italian Republic. Anedda died in Cagliari on July 30, 1997.
