FRANCESCO PAOLO TOSTI — great composer of small form — romanza da camera italiana

The Vocal and Acting Faculty invites you to a vocal recital and a lecture on the occasion of Francesco Paolo Tosti's 180th birthday entitled “Francesco Paolo Tosti — great composer of small form — romanza da camera italiana”, performed by Stanisław Daniel Kotliński (baritone) and Luka Balderi (piano).

A word about the concert 🇵🇱/Note di sala 🇮🇹

Coordination: Prof. Jacek Ozimkowski
Partner: Italian Institute in Cracow — dr Matteo Ogliari
Patronage: Dr Stefano Barlacchi — Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Florence and Tuscany

TOAST MUSIC CONCERT IN CRACOW

Francesco Paolo Tosti was born in Ortona in 1846 and educated at the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory in Naples, which he graduated in 1866 with a degree in violin playing and composition. He soon made himself known as a prolific creator of music distinguished by an endearing melody. Already in his youth he gave singing lessons to Princess Margaret of Savoy, later Queen of Italy. In 1875, at the age of twenty-nine, he made his debut in London; he achieved tremendous success and decided to settle in the capital of Great Britain. During his more than thirty years in London, Tosti became a significant figure in British musical life — not only as a professor at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, but also as a singing teacher to Queen Victoria's children and members of the royal family over three generations. Taking advantage of the royal patronage, he made himself known as an outstanding organizer of musical events in the British capital. He enjoyed great authority and universal respect: in 1905, Queen Victoria's son and successor, Edward VII, granted him British citizenship, and in 1908 he was honoured with the title of Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (entitling him to use the title “Sir”), making him the third musician in history — after the British Commodore. composer Arthur Sullivan and Polish tenor Janie de Reszke — distinguished in this way. Edward's successor, George V, also took lessons from Tosti and became a great lover of his work. Tosti's last royal disciples were King George V and his consort, Queen Mary — grandparents of Queen Elizabeth II.

Tosti, the great reformer of the style of the Italian romance da camera, a genre between chamber aria and song, is recognized as one of the most outstanding composers of his era; according to the British music press of the 20th century, the popularity he enjoyed during his lifetime can be compared to that achieved in modern times by the band The Beatles. He maintained friendly relations with many prominent artists of the time, gaining recognition from figures such as Gabriele D'Annunzio, Giuseppe Verdi or Giacomo Puccini.

When Enrico Caruso first performed in London in 1902, it was Tosti who hosted him during an evening attended by numerous representatives of the court and London aristocracy. His romanas da camera were performed by the most famous singers of that era, such as Melba, Gigli, Schipa and Battistini. From 1873, Tosti collaborated with Giulio Ricordi — initially his publisher and later also a close friend. In England, his works were published by the leading London publishers: Chappell and Enoch. Tosti spent the last years of his life in Italy, living in the suite of the Excelsior Hotel in Rome; he died in Rome on December 2, 1916.

Baritone Stanisław Daniel Kotliński has been promoting Tosti's work in many countries around the world for years. He recently recorded two albums dedicated to his salon arias (“Romanza italiana da salotto”): for the Dux label (for the European market) and Naxos (for the American market, 2020). The second recording, titled “Sir Paolo Tosti and his Fascinating World of Fin de Siècle”, premiered in London in 2022; it was accompanied by a special edition of seventy copies of the album, dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate her seventy-year reign on the throne. The publication received recognition from Jubilee and the British royal family — including the Duke and Duchess of Wales and King Charles III after the Queen's death. Japanese label Da Vinci Classics, with the support of the National Tosti Institute, released this recording in late 2025 in international distribution, under the title “Sir Paolo Tosti at the British Royal Court”. In May 2026, the album received a rating of “5 stars” by the renowned Italian classical music magazine “MUSICA”.

TOSTIANO CONCERT IN KRAKOW

Francesco Paolo Tosti was born in Ortona in 1846, studied at the San Pietro Conservatory at Majella di Napoli, where he graduated in 1866 in violin and composition. Presto si dimostrare autore prolifico di musica caratterizzata da invenzioni melodiche ricche di fascinino. Giovanissimo will be the singing teacher of Princess Margherita of Savoy, future queen of Italy. Nel 1875, ventinovenne, debutta a Londra, il successo è enormi, il compositore decided to settle in the British capital. In more than thirty years of London permanence, Tosti diventa one of the most significant figures of British music: not only as a professor of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, but also as a singing instructor of the sons of Regina Vittoria and of the royal family for three generations. Sotto il patrocinio della Regina si dimostra un ineguagliabile organizzatore di eventi musicali nella capitale britannica. Gode di grande autorità e del respectto generale: nel 1905 il figlio e successore della regina Vittoria, Edoardo VII, gli conferisce la cittadinanza inglese, e nel 1908 ha honora con il titolo di Cavaliere Comandante dell'Ordine Vittoriano che consente a Tosti di usare il titolo Sir: ed è il terzo musicista a riceverlo dopo il British composer Arthur Sullivan and Polish tenor Jan Reszke. Also the successor of Edoardo, Giorgio V, studied with Tosti giving his great estimator. Gli ultimi allievi reali inglesi di Tosti furono Re Giorgio V e la consort Queen Mary, i nonni della Regina Elisabetta II.

Tosti, il grande reformatore della romanza da camera italiana (un genere tra l'aria da camera e il Lied), ha la fama di essere un'tra i più illustrious compositori della sua epoca, e, secondo la stampa inglese di settore del XX secolo, la popularità di cui godette in vita è unrivalled quella raggiunta dai Beatles nei nostri tempi and. Intrattiene rapporti d'amicizia con molti dei più grandi artisti della sua epoca, estimato da Gabriele D'Annunzio, Giuseppe Verdi e Giacomo Puccini.

When in 1902 Enrico Caruso was in London for the first time, he owned Tosti to host him for a serata in which many representatives of the court and the London aristocracy participated. The most famous singers of the time, Melba, Gigli, Schipa and Battistini, for example, followed their romance. Inoltre Tosti collaborated without since 1873 with Giulio Ricordi, his first editor and by his great friend. In England his music was published by the most important London publishers, Chappell and Enoch. Tosti trascorse gli ultimi anni di vita in Italia, nella suite dell'hotel Excelsior a Roma, dove morì il 2 dicembre 1916.

The baritone Stanisław Daniel Kotliński has long promoted the opera tostiana in many countries of the world. He has recently recorded two CDs dedicated to Tosti: Romanza italiana da salotto, con la Dux polacca in Europa e la Naxos in America (2020), the second Sir Paolo Tosti and his fascinating World of Fin de Siècle has made his debut in London in 2022, with a special edition of seventy albums, dedicated to Regina Elisabetta II, for his seventies of kingdom. L'album è stato elogiato dai Reali inglesi, dai Principi di Galles, e dal Re Carlo III, dopo la morte della Regina. This recording, sponsored by the Istituto Nazionale Tostiano, was officially published in October 2025 (Sir Paolo Tosti at the British Royal Court), with an international distribution, produced by the Japanese record label Da Vinci Classics. In the month of May 2026 the album was awarded with “5-stelle” from part of the historical Italian magazine “MUSICA”.