Sylvio Lazzari

Full biography Sylvio Lazzari

Sylvio Lazzari was a French composer who was born in Bozen, in the Tyrol in 1857 and died in Paris in 1944. Though he was born in Tyrol, he became a fervent Breton and is known to have been influenced by the Breton landscape and culture. Lazzari studied music in Paris under César Franck and worked closely with Ernest Chausson. He wrote his first work, a piano quartet, in 1894, which was well received, and went on to compose numerous works, including operas, chamber music, orchestral works, and songs. His music is known for its chromaticism, lyricism, and evocation of the natural world.

Lazzari's most famous works include his opera "La Lépreuse," which premiered in 1907 and was well received by audiences and critics alike. He also composed a number of chamber works, including string quartets, piano trios, and sonatas. His "String Quartet No. 5" has been described as a "hauntingly beautiful" work, with a "dark and brooding" quality.

Lazzari's music was highly regarded during his lifetime, and he was considered an important figure in French music. He was a member of the Société Nationale de Musique and was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1929. However, his music fell out of favor in the years following his death, and his works are now rarely performed. Despite this, Lazzari's contribution to French music is still recognized, and his compositions continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars and musicians today.