Rotoli, Augusto

1847-

Italian singing teacher and composer; born at Rome, and studied harmony, singing and piano under Lucchesi, and later took lessons in counterpoint of Salesi. As a choirboy at St. Peter's his voice attracted much attention, and secured for him many engagements. After the change in his voice he devoted his energies to teaching, composing and conducting, and founded a choral society which rose to the head among organizations of the kind in Rome. In 1876 he was chosen as singing teacher to Princess Margherita of Italy, who later became queen and in 1878 became conductor of the Cappella reale del Sudano. After a call to London to conduct two concerts of old Italian church-music, and another from Liszt on his return, to conduct the orchestra at the pianist's villa, in a concert at which Liszt played his own E flat concerto, his reputation as a conductor was established; and his songs became extremely popular. In 1885 he was invited to become a member of the faculty of the New England Conservatory, Boston, and in that position has taught many pupils since of note in concert and opera. His works include a mass for four voices, sung at the funeral of Victor Emanuel in Rome, 1878; a Salmo elegiaco for barytone solo, chorus, and orchestra, written for the same occasion; and numerous songs with piano accompaniment.