Francesco d'Avalos
classical composer · conductor · composer · teacher · musician
- April 11, 1930 · Naples
- May 26, 2014 · Naples
- 84 years
About Francesco d'Avalos
Francesco d'Avalos, 84, Italian conductor and composer.
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Full Biography
|Francesco d'Avalos (11 April 1930 in Naples – 26 May 2014 in Naples) was an Italian conductor and composer. Holder of the aristocratic titles of Prince d'Avalos and Marquis of Vasto and Pescara, d'Avalos was also a descendant of the uncle of Maria d'Avalos, the murdered first wife of Carlo Gesualdo.
d'Avalos acknowledged that the Italian composer Antonio Favasta convinced his parents to allow him to study music. He began music studies at age 12, including piano studies with Marta De Conciliis, and later with Vincenzo Vitale. He subsequently studied composition with Renato Parodi. He considered Psiche, written at seventeen, as his first composition. He graduated with honours from the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella in Naples, with a degree in composition. He also studied philosophy at the University of Naples. He studied conducting at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, and his conducting mentors included Paul van Kempen, Franco Ferrara and Sergiu Celibidache. From 1951 to 1954, he was a music critic for Il Quotidiano.
In 1972, Nino Rota recruited d'Avalos as a composition teacher to the Conservatory in Bari, where he remained until 1979. d'Avalos then accepted a faculty post at the Naples Conservatory, where he remained until 1998. He was a guest conductor with various orchestras both in his native Italy and elsewhere in Europe. He made commercial recordings for such labels as ASV, IMP, Chandos, Brilliant, Amadeus, and Nireus.
d'Avalos composed two symphonies for soprano and orchestra. His other compositions include:
- Maria Venosa for soloists, chorus and orchestra.
- Qumran for orchestra, for soloists, chorus and orchestra.
- Hymne an die Nacht for orchestra
- Studio Sinfonico for orchestra
- Psiche e Eros for orchestra
- Musica per un dramma immaginario (for orchestra
- Vexilla Regis for chorus and orchestra
- Lines for soprano and orchestra
- Il Fiume Wang for soprano and strings
- Sonata da chiesa for strings
- Suite Slava for strings
- Quintet for piano and strings
- In Memoriam for piano and orchestra
- Idillio for piano and string orchestra
His awards and honours included:
- Composition Prize "Marzotto Prize Selection 1958"
- "Grand Prix International du Disque Académie Charles Cros – Paris 1990" for recordings of symphonic works of Martucci
- "Mra Award 1991" for the recording of the Third Symphony of Joachim Raff
- Special Prize of the Carriera del Centro Incontro delle Arti Della Monaco (2010)
- Prize of the President of the Republic "Oltre l'Orizzonte nel 2010"
In 2005, Bietti published d'Avalos' book La crisi dell'Occidente e la presenza della storia – Il significato del ventesimo secolo attraverso l'evoluzione della musica (The Crisis of the West and The Presence of History – The Meaning of the Twentieth Century Through the Evolution of Music). In November 2013, his autobiography was published.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_d'Avalos
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 30, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Francesco d'Avalos's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Francesco d'Avalos born on 11 April 1930?
- A.Naplescorrect
- B.Bari
- C.Rome
- D.Milan
Francesco d'Avalos was born on 11 April 1930 in Naples.
Source: biographical introduction
2.At what age did Francesco d'Avalos begin his music studies?
- A.Age 10
- B.Age 17
- C.Age 15
- D.Age 12correct
Francesco d'Avalos began his music studies at age 12.
Source: early education section
3.Which Italian composer convinced the parents of Francesco d'Avalos to allow him to study music?
- A.Antonio Favastacorrect
- B.Nino Rota
- C.Giuseppe Verdi
- D.Renato Parodi
The Italian composer Antonio Favasta convinced the parents of Francesco d'Avalos to let him study music.
Source: early education section
4.Which university did Francesco d'Avalos attend to study philosophy?
- A.University of Bari
- B.University of Naplescorrect
- C.University of Rome
- D.University of Siena
Francesco d'Avalos studied philosophy at the University of Naples.
Source: early education section
5.What was the first composition written by Francesco d'Avalos at age seventeen?
- A.Maria Venosa
- B.Idillio
- C.Qumran
- D.Psichecorrect
Francesco d'Avalos considered Psiche, written at age seventeen, as his first composition.
Source: early education section
6.Who was one of the conducting mentors of Francesco d'Avalos at the Accademia Chigiana?
- A.Sergiu Celibidachecorrect
- B.Antonio Favasta
- C.Marta De Conciliis
- D.Vincenzo Vitale
Francesco d'Avalos studied conducting at the Accademia Chigiana and his mentors included Sergiu Celibidache.
Source: early education section
7.For which publication did Francesco d'Avalos work as a music critic from 1951 to 1954?
- A.Corriere della Sera
- B.Il Mattino
- C.Il Quotidianocorrect
- D.La Repubblica
From 1951 to 1954, Francesco d'Avalos served as a music critic for Il Quotidiano.
Source: early career section
8.In what year did Nino Rota recruit Francesco d'Avalos to teach at the Conservatory in Bari?
- A.1965
- B.1979
- C.1985
- D.1972correct
Nino Rota recruited Francesco d'Avalos as a composition teacher to the Conservatory in Bari in 1972.
Source: teaching career section
9.Until what year did Francesco d'Avalos remain at the Naples Conservatory?
- A.2005
- B.1988
- C.1992
- D.1998correct
Francesco d'Avalos accepted a faculty post at the Naples Conservatory, where he remained until 1998.
Source: teaching career section
10.Which of these is a composition by Francesco d'Avalos for soloists, chorus and orchestra?
- A.In Memoriam
- B.Psiche e Eros
- C.Maria Venosacorrect
- D.Suite Slava
Maria Venosa is a composition by Francesco d'Avalos written for soloists, chorus and orchestra.
Source: composition list
11.For which recording did Francesco d'Avalos receive the Mra Award in 1991?
- A.Symphonic works of Martucci
- B.Vexilla Regis
- C.Psiche e Eros
- D.Third Symphony of Joachim Raffcorrect
Francesco d'Avalos received the Mra Award 1991 for the recording of the Third Symphony of Joachim Raff.
Source: awards section
12.In what year was the book titled La crisi dell'Occidente e la presenza della storia published?
- A.2010
- B.2013
- C.2005correct
- D.1998
In 2005, Bietti published the book La crisi dell'Occidente e la presenza della storia by Francesco d'Avalos.
Source: publications section
13.What is one of the aristocratic titles held by Francesco d'Avalos?
- A.Prince d'Avaloscorrect
- B.Count of Sicily
- C.Duke of Venice
- D.Baron of Rome
Francesco d'Avalos was a holder of the aristocratic title of Prince d'Avalos.
Source: biographical introduction
14.Which label is mentioned as having produced commercial recordings for Francesco d'Avalos?
- A.Chandoscorrect
- B.Decca
- C.Sony
- D.Universal
Francesco d'Avalos made commercial recordings for labels including Chandos.
Source: recording career section
15.When was the autobiography of Francesco d'Avalos published?
- A.January 2005
- B.May 2014
- C.November 2013correct
- D.December 2010
The autobiography of Francesco d'Avalos was published in November 2013.
Source: publications section
16.On what date did Francesco d'Avalos die?
- A.10 June 2010
- B.26 May 2014correct
- C.11 April 1930
- D.15 November 2013
Francesco d'Avalos died on 26 May 2014 in Naples.
Source: biographical introduction
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