Franco Faccio

Franco Faccio (March 8, 1840 – July 21, 1891) was an Italian composer and conductor. Born in Verona, Faccio became known as a conductor of Verdi's music. He studied music in Milan and after finishing his studies began his career as a composer, writing I Profughi Fiamminghi (Milan, 1863) and Amleto (Genoa, 1865), the latter being one of the many operas based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Both operas failed to achieve success either among the cr... more

Franco Faccio (March 8, 1840 – July 21, 1891) was an Italian composer and conductor. Born in Verona, Faccio became known as a conductor of Verdi's music. He studied music in Milan and after finishing his studies began his career as a composer, writing I Profughi Fiamminghi (Milan, 1863) and Amleto (Genoa, 1865), the latter being one of the many operas based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Both operas failed to achieve success either among the critics or the general public. However the Marcia Funebre composed for the Amleto is considered as an important example of Faccio's lyricism. Its popularity is made evident by its transcriptions for wind band in late 19th century. One can still listen to this part of the opera in Corfu during Easter, where the band of Philarmonic Society of Corfu performs it during the epitaph litany of St. Spyridon in the morning of Holy Saturday. Conductor Anthony Barese edited Amleto's score in 2004 and presented the work on stage, thereby allowing a re... less