Life
Trained at the height of Romanticism, his long career led him to reach full maturity during the Late-Romantic phase, in a cultural climate that already precluded the new demands of Realism.
Born in Florence in 1818 to a father from Prato, Cesare Ciardi studied flute with Luigi Carlesi. At just nine years old, he performed at the Royal Palace before Paganini, who took him on tour to Turin. In 1838 he graduated in composition from the Collegio San Gaetano in Florence. In 1840 he presented his first composition, the Variations for flute and piano on Lucrezia Borgia, showcasing virtuoso skills.
In 1846 he undertook a tour to London, where he met Jean Louis Tulou and the builders of the Boehm flute, which he never adopted, preferring the Briccialdi system. He continued to compose pieces of great technical brilliance, exalting the possibilities of the traditional flute. In 1851 he debuted as an opera composer with Il Sindaco e la Zia, presented in Florence.
From 1853 he settled in St. Petersburg as the Tsar's flautist and professor at the Conservatory founded by Rubinstein. He was also the teacher of Tchaikovsky, who remained his friend. He met and collaborated with other Italian musicians in Russia, including Ernesto Cavallini. Although he returned to Italy in 1867 for a concert in Prato, he lived mainly in Russia, where he died suddenly in 1877.
Aneddoto
Paganini and the child prodigy
When Paganini heard him as a child, he was so impressed that he took him on tour, presenting him as a minor flute phenomenon.Works
Ciardi's production is vast, particularly for the flute. Solistic pieces include: Scherzo op. 2, Trio scolastico op. 24, Ricordi d’Album op. 43, I Piaceri della solitudine (6 Caprices), and 22 Duettini. For flute and piano he composed brilliant variations and fantasies on opera themes such as La Lucrezia Borgia, Beatrice di Tenda, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, I due Foscari, Ernani, Linda di Chamounix, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Nabucco. He also wrote collections such as the Verdiflautomaniaco, 12 divertimenti on themes by Verdi, and numerous character pieces (polkas, mazurkas, nocturnes, elegies).
He composed chamber works such as Le Rossignol op. 61, Duetto concertante op. 121, Chant élégiaque op. 132, and brilliant variations on Russian motifs. For orchestra he wrote overtures and concert pieces. He was also the author of pedagogical works that trained generations of Russian and Italian flautists.
Briciole di storia
Pubblico dominio (Commons)
