Bossi: Opere Varie

Marco Enrico Bossi (Salò, 1861 – aboard ship from New York to Le Havre, 1925), received his musical training at the conservatory of Milan under Polibio Fumagalli (organ), Francesco Sangalli (piano), and Carlo Boniforti, Cesare Dominiceti and Amilcare Ponchielli (compostion).
He was then appointed organist and maestro di cappella at the cathedral in Como (1881-89), organ teacher at the conservatory of Naples (1890-95), and composition teacher and director of the conservatories of Venice (1895-1902), Bologna (1902-11) and Rome (1916-23).
Widely praised as a performer, composer and pedagogue (Bossi was responsible for the reform of the curriculum of the Italian conservatories), he was also the first Italian to achieve international fame as a concert artist.
He was appointed to the highest positions of the realm, was welcomed as an honorary member of the most prestigious academies both in Italy and abroad, and enjoyed the admiration and friendship of great musicians and literary figures.
These included, (to name a few), Giuseppe Verdi (who wrote from Busseto: I need not tell you that all these compositions of yours are created in a masterful manner…) Arrigo Boito, Giacomo Puccini, Jules Massenet, César Franck, Camille Saint-Saëns, Giovanni Pascoli, and Gabriele D’Annunzio.
He died on the French oceanliner “De Grasse” during the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Le Havre, returning from a triumphant concert tour of the United States.