What Think You I Take My Pen in Hand to Record?

Tenor Salvatore Champagne became fascinated by the work of Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco through his longtime pianist and collaborator, Howard Lubin. The introduction led to 15 years of research by Champagne, during which he uncovered the influential composer's unpublished Shakespeare Sonnets as well as a song cycle setting Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. In them Champagne found music of profound beauty and intimacy-and he became intent on sharing these treasures through his singing and in his work with students. The discoveries led to this premiere recording and the 66-page book that accompanies it: a fascinating exploration of Castelnuovo-Tedesco's life, work, and influence among a generation of U.S. composers and musicians. In addition, the book features rarely seen personal photographs and other artifacts that capture the essence of Castelnuovo-Tedesco.