Biography
During his teenage years, Castelnuevo displayed early talent by enrolling at the Florence Conservatory, where he earned diplomas in piano and composition. His partnership with Casella brought swift recognition, allowing him to reside in Florence and support himself as an independent composer and pianist. Because he was Jewish, Castelnuevo had to escape to the USA in 1939, at which point he gained American citizenship and turned his attention to film scoring. Exceptionally productive throughout his life, he generated compositions that varied widely in quality. Songs and piano works from his initial period rank as his strongest output, above all his settings of 33 Shakespeare Songs. Operas, concertos, and an extensive catalog of guitar pieces further expanded his output.