A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Tosti, Francesco
TOSTI, Francesco Paolo, an Italian composer, born April 7, 1847 [App. p.799 "April 9, 1846"], at Ortona sul mare, in the Abruzzi. In 1858 his parents sent him to the Royal College of St. Pietro a Majella at Naples, where he studied the violin under Pinto, and composition under Conti and the venerable Mercadante. The young pupil made wonderful progress, and was by Mercadante appointed maestrino or pupil teacher, with the not too liberal salary of 60 francs a month. He remained in Naples until the end of 1869, when, feeling that his health had been much impaired by overwork, he went back to Ortona with the hope of regaining strength. However, as soon as he got home he was taken seriously ill with bronchitis, and only after seven months recovered sufficiently to go to Rome and resume work. During his illness he wrote 'Non m'ama più' and 'Lamento d'amore'; but it was with difficulty that the young composer could induce a publisher to print these songs, which have since become so popular, and it was not till a considerable time after they sold well that he disposed of the copyright for the insignificant sum of £20 each. Sigr. Sgambati, the well-known composer, and leader of the new musical school in Rome, was among the first to recognise Tosti's talent, and in order to give his friend a fair start in the fashionable and artistic world, he assisted him to give a concert at the 'Sala Dante,' the St. James's Hall of Rome, where he achieved a great success, singing several of his own compositions, and a ballad purposely written for him by Sgambati, 'Eravi un vecchio sene.' The Queen of Italy, then Princess Margherita di Savoja, honoured the concert with her presence, and showed her appreciation by immediately appointing him as her teacher of singing. Shortly afterwards he was entrusted with the care of the Musical Archives of the Italian Court. It was in 1875 that M. Tosti first visited London, where he was well received in the best circles, both as an artist and as a man. Since then he has paid a yearly visit to the English capital, and in 1880 was called in as teacher of singing to the Royal Family of England.
M. Tosti has written Italian, French, and English songs: and though the Italian outnumber by far both the English and French, his popularity rests mainly on his English ballads. The wind and tide of fashion are fully in his favour, yet it would be unsafe to determine what place he will ultimately hold amongst song composers. What can even now be said of him is that he has an elegant, simple and facile inspiration, a style of his own, a genuine Italian flow of melody, and great skill in finding the most appropriate and never-failing effects for drawing-room songs. He is still in the full strength of intellectual power and life, and each new composition shows a higher artistic aim and a nobler and more vigorous expression of thought than the last. There is therefore good ground to hope that his future works may win for him from critics of all nations the high estimation in which he is now held by English and Italian amateurs.
He has published, up to the end of 1883, 35 songs, in addition to 4 Vocal Albums, and 15 duets, 'Canti Popolari Abruzzesi.' Of his songs the most popular in London are 'For ever,' 'Goodbye,' 'Mother,' 'At Vespers,' 'Amore,' 'Aprile,' 'Vorrei morire,' and 'That Day.'[ G. M. ]