Alberto Zelman (senior)
Alberto Zelman (1832 – 28 December 1907) was a Trieste-born Australian composer, music conductor, music teacher, organist and pianist.[1]
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He was born at Trieste, Austria (now part of Italy), of Italian parents. He was educated as a musician and made his mark as a conductor in northern Italy. He then went to Calcutta, India, where he was successful for some years as a teacher and conductor, and about 1870 came to Australia as conductor of an opera company. He settled at Melbourne, was much esteemed as a man and as a musician, was for many years conductor of the Melbourne Liedertafel, and was a well-known piano teacher.
Zelman compositions included orchestral works, masses and many solos for the violin. He died at Melbourne in 1907 leaving a widow and four sons.[2]
His son, also named Alberto Zelman, was also a musician and the founder of the Albert Street Conservatorium Orchestra[3] which, in 1927, combined with the Melbourne University Symphony Orchestra[4] to form the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.[5] Another son, Victor Zelman, was a painter and etcher.
References
- The Age (30 December 1907). "The Death of Signor Zelman"
- Radic, Thérèse (1976). "Zelman, Alberto (1832–1907)". Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6. Online version retrieved 22 January 2016.
- School of Historical Studies, Department of History. "Melba Conservatorium of Music - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online". www.emelbourne.net.au. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- Kennel, Emily (13 August 2020). "Tools of the Trade". Old Quad. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- Wireless Weekly magazine, 29 July 1927 edition