EGIDA
GIORDANI
SARTORI

Harpsichordist

Egida Giordani Sartori, often considered the dean of Italian harpsichordists, dedicated her life to the revival and popularization of this instrument.

She was born in 1910 and began piano studies at the age of three with her mother. By the time she was four she gave a recital for a member of the Savoia royal family. At five she was the youngest student ever admitted to the Benedetto Marcello Music School in Venice, where she performed in a famous violin/piano duo with Nino Sanzogno, another young prodigy. Personal difficulties and World War II interrupted her musical activities. Eventually, she discovered the harpsichord and attended Ferruccio Vignanelli's course at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome. Her first harpsichord recital was in Prague.

Sartori performed in many important European cities, both as soloist and in collaboration with other eminent artists, including the conductors Carlo Maria Giulini, Riccardo Muti, Eugen Jochum, Peter Maag, Goffredo Petrassi and Domenico Bartolucci, and noted singers Toti dal Monte, Beniamino Gigli, Tito Schipa and Boris Christoff. She formed the ensembles Trio Antico, Musicorum Arcadia and Complesso strumentale di Venezia for the performance of chamber music.

She made a number of recordings for VOX, FRATELLI FABBRI and PHILIPS. Her famous collaboration with Arthur Grumiaux in Bach’s Six Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord for PHILIPS was awarded the Edison Prize. She also recorded programs for the RAI and several other European radio networks, including cycles of Frescobaldi, Scarlatti and Galuppi for the BBC.

Sartori played an important role in the discovery of the harpsichord and its repertoire. Her musicological research shed new light on 18th century Venetian music, particularly that of Galuppi. She taught harpsichord at conservatories in Venice, Milan and Rome, and for twenty years she gave masterclasses and concerts on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore near Venice. These programs were organized through l’Associazione Clavicembalistica Italiana, which she founded and directed, and were made possible by the generous support of the Fondazione G. Cini. Sartori died in 1999.

Sartori's book, Le mie memorie con Toti Dal Monte, relates memories of her close friendship with the legendary soprano Toti dal Monte, as well as experiences from her own childhood.

A new biograpy of Sartori has recently been published: Cronaca di una favola chiamata musica. Biografia artistica di Egida Sartori (1910-1999).


Sartori, circa 1918.


Sartori and Toti dal Monte, 1950.


Sartori, 1970.

Baldassare Galuppi

➤ "Toccata per il cembalo" in D minor

➤ "Divertimento per il cembalo" in G major

From the LP FRATELLI FABBRI EDITORI iGMsc 175

78 Discography

SUPRAPHON

  • D 22979
    • Frescobaldi: Toccata in G minor
    Recorded 24 August 1948.

LP Discography

ANGELICUM

BENTLER
  • BE/SO 3005
    • Bach: Italian Concerto (BWV 971), Handel: Chaconne in G major (HWV 435), Monteverdi: Il lamento di Arianna - with Ginevra Vivante, soprano

CETRA SORIA
  • CS 1
    • Petrassi: Sonata da camera for harpsichord and ten instruments (1948), Milhaud: L'Apothéose de Molière (Suite on themes by Baptiste Anet), Vlad: Divertimento for eleven instruments - with the Radio Chamber Orchestra of Rome directed by Carlo Maria Giulini
    Recorded 9 July 1949 in Rome, Italy.

FRATELLI FABBRI EDITORI
  • SdM 019
    • Scarlatti: Five Harpsichord Sonatas (K. 208, 18, 175, 30, 3), A. Scarlatti: Toccata in G minor
    Recorded on a Neupert harpsichord. 7" LP.

  • SdM 020
    • Couperin: Les fastes de la grande et ancienne ménestrandise, Rameau: Tambouin, Le Rappel des Oiseaux, L'Indiscrète, La Timide
    Recorded on a Neupert harpsichord. 7" LP.

  • iGM 042
    • Scarlatti: Eleven Harpsichord Sonatas (K. 20, 24, 9, 64, 115, 107, 140, 202, 380, 481, 477)
    Recorded in Milan, Italy.

  • iGM 057
    • Frescobaldi: Toccata Prima (from "Il Secondo Libro di Toccate"), Toccata Nona, non senza fatiga si giunge al fine (from "Il Secondo Libro di Toccate"), Balletto Terzo - Corrente del Balletto - Passacagli (from "Il Primo Libro di Toccate"), Capriccio sopra la Battaglia (from "Il Primo Libro di Toccate")
    Recorded in Milan, Italy.

  • iGMsc 147
    • Cimarosa: Five Harpsichord Sonatas (G Major, G minor, A Major, A minor, F major)
    Recorded on a Neupert harpsichord.

  • iGMsc 162
    • Couperin: Pièces de clavecin [Passacaille, Les folies françoises - ou Les dominos, Troisième prélude, Septième prélude, Les papillons, Le rossignol-en-amour, Le moucheron, Le tic-toc-choc - ou Les maillotins]
    Recorded on a Neupert harpsichord.

  • iGMsc 175
    • Galuppi: Three Harpsichord Sonatas (C major, G major, A minor), "Toccata per il cembalo" in D minor, Pastorale in F major, "Divertimento per il cembalo" in G major
    Recorded on a Neupert harpsichord.

PHILIPS
  • A 00316 L
    • Marcello: Six Sonatas for Viola da gamba and Harpsichord (Op. 1) - with Janos Scholz, viola da gamba
    Recorded April 1955.

    also released as:
    EPIC 3260

  • A 00333 L
    • Galuppi: Eight Harpsichord Sonatas (C major, D minor, B flat major, D major, C minor, A flat major, D major, C major)

  • A 00334 L
    • Frescobaldi: Toccata I (from "Il Secondo Libro di Toccate"), Aria detta La Frescobalda, Partite (12) sopra l'aria di Ruggiero, Rossi: Corrente VIII - Corrente X - Toccata VII (from "Libro di Toccate e Corrente"), Pasquini: Toccata con lo Scherzo del cucco, Partite diverse di follia, A. Scarlatti: Toccata in A major, Toccta in G minor
    Listen on YOUTUBE >>

    also released as:
    EPIC 3480

  • A 00385 L
    • LE NUOVE MUSICHE [Luzzaschi: Aura soave (from "Madrigali per cantare et sonare" 1601), Caccini: Non più guerra - Movetevi a pietà - Vedrò 'l mio sol - Perfidissimo volto - Sfogava con le stelle - Fortunato augellino - Filli mirando il cielo (from "Le nuove musiche" 1601), Peri: In qual parte del ciel - Tutto 'l di piango - O durezza di ferro - Lungi dal vostro lume - Se tu parti da me - Ma se resti al mio ben - Chi più cara t'havrà (from "Le varie musiche" 1609), da Gagliano: Ov'unque irato Marte - Valli profonde - Pastor levate su (from "Musiche a una, due e tre voci" 1616)] - with Ingy Nicolai, soprano; Claudia Carbi, mezzosoprano; Alfredo Nobile, tenor
    Recorded 20-24 April 1956 at Sala Ateneo Antoniano, Rome, Italy.

  • A 00472 L
    • Scarlatti: Thirteen Harpsichord Sonatas (K. 37, 87, 132, 159, 206, 239, 262, 301, 394, 492, 513, 194, 545)
    Recorded 28 October - 6 November 1956 at Studio Melodicon, Milan, Italy.

  • A 04400 L
    • Galuppi: Six Harpsichord Sonatas (D major, D minor, A major, E-flat major, D major, E major)

  • A 04803 L
    • CONCERTO ALL'ITALIANA [Pergolesi: Sonata da camera No. 2 in B-flat major, Albinoni: Trio Sonata in E minor (Op. 1, No. 11), Giordani: Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 in D major, Porpora: Sinfonia da camera in A major] - with Musicorum Arcadia (Alberto Poltroniere, Tino Bacchetta, violins; Mario Gusella, cello)
    All works revised by Egida Giordani Sartori.

  • 835 227-28 LY
    • Bach: Six Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord (BWV 1014-1019) - with Arthur Grumiaux, violin
    Recorded June 1963 (BWV 1014, 1016, 1017) and September 1963 (BWV 1015, 1018, 1019) at the Municipal Theater, Vevey, Switzerland.

  • 835 231 AY
    • Bach: Six Concertos for Solo Harpsichord after Vivaldi (BWV 972, 973, 975, 976, 978, 980)
    Recorded 23-27 September 1963 at the Municipal Theater, Vevey, Switzerland.

  • 835 300 LY
    • Vivaldi: Salve Regina, Gloria - Agnes Giebel, soprano; Marga Hoffgen, contralto; Chorus and Orchestra Teatro La Fenice, Venice; directed by Vittorio Negri
    Recorded October 1964 at the Cathedral of San Marco, Venice, Italy.

  • 835 301 LY
    • Vivaldi: Magnificat, Te Deum - Agnes Giebel, soprano; Marga Hoffgen, contralto; Chorus and Orchestra Teatro La Fenice, Venice; directed by Vittorio Negri
    Recorded October 1964 at the Cathedral of San Marco, Venice, Italy.

  • 837 917 LY
    • Scarlatti: Twelve Harpsichord Sonatas (K. 175, 481, 140, 213, 64, 477, 115, 523, 202, 208, 518, 519)
    Recorded September 1967.

  • 837 918 LY
    • IMAGES POUR LE CLAVECIN [Couperin: Les fastes de la grande et ancienne ménestrandise, Bach: Capriccio (BWV 992), Byrd: La bataille, Speranza: Uccellaja, Pasquini: Toccata con lo Scherzo del cucco]
    Recorded September 1967.

  • Unreleased
    • Handel: Six Sonatas for Violin and Continuo (Op. 1) - with Arthur Grumiaux, violin
    Recorded March-April 1964 at the Municipal Theater, Vevey, Switzerland.

VOX
  • PL 9010
    • Bach: Three Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord (BWV 1027-29) - with Janos Scholz, viola da gamba
    Published 1955.

  • VBX 36
    • Corelli: Twelve Trio Sonatas (Op. 3), Twelve Trio Sonatas (Op. 4) - with Musicorum Arcadia (Alberto Poltroniere, Tino Bacchetta, violins; Mario Gusella, cello; Gianfranco Spinelli, organ)

  • VBX 37
    • Corelli: Twelve Church Sonatas (Op. 1), Twelve Trio Sonatas (Op. 2) - with Musicorum Arcadia (Alberto Poltroniere, Tino Bacchetta, violins; Mario Gusella, cello; Gianfranco Spinelli, organ)


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PHILIPS   A 04400 L


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FRATELLI FABBRI EDITORI   iGM 042


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VOX   PL 9010

CD Discography

FONDAZIONE GIORGIO CINI

  • FGC 001-2000
    • Galuppi: Harpsichord Music [Divertimento in E major, Sonata in G minor, Sonata in F major, Toccata in D minor, Pastorale in F major, Sonata in D major, Sonata in B-flat major]
    Recorded 1979-80 in Venice, Italy, during Sartori's harpsichord courses.

PHILIPS
  • PHCP 9639-40 (Japan)
    • Bach: Six Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord (BWV 1014-1019) - with Arthur Grumiaux, violin
    Recorded June 1963 (BWV 1014, 1016, 1017) and September 1963 (BWV 1015, 1018, 1019) at the Municipal Theater, Vevey, Switzerland.

WARNER FONIT
  • WFO 50466-3127
    • Petrassi: Sonata da camera for harpsichord and ten instruments (1948), Milhaud: L'Apothéose de Molière (Suite on themes by Baptiste Anet), Vlad: Divertimento for eleven instruments - with the Radio Chamber Orchestra of Rome directed by Carlo Maria Giulini
    Recorded 9 July 1949 in Rome, Italy.


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FONDAZIONE GIORGIO CINI   FGC 001-2000


Egida Giordani Sartori, circa 1963.

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Last update: 19 April 2021