COMPOSITEURS ET INTERPRÈTES

CALLİSTO GUATELLİ

(1820?-1899)

Callisto was an Italian musician and conductor of the Mızıka-i Hümayun. In 1856, while conducting the Italian Opera Orchestra at the Naum Theatre in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district, Donizetti Paşa died and Guatelli was called in to replace him as conductor of the Mızıka-i Hümayun. Two years later he was replaced by Pizani, but 10 years afterwards he was brought back once more. He taught music to such figures as Murat V, Abdülhamit II, Fatma Sultan, Mehmet Ali Bey, Safvet Atabinen, Zâti Karaca, Zeki Ün and İ. Hakkı Bey.

He wrote polyphonic adaptations for piano of many songs by Ârif Bey, Şevki Bey and Rıfat Bey, a portion of which were published. He also published a collection of 24 Turkish songs arranged in western harmony, in an Italian collection, 24 Arie Nazionali e Canti Popolari Orientali, Antichi e Moderni.