Vincenzo Petrali
(Crema, 1832 — Bergamo, 1889)
Vincenzo Petrali, born in Crema in 1832, was an organist of great talent and fame, such to be defined as “the Prince of Italian organists”. First cousin of the celebrated double bass player, Giovanni Bottesini, the young Petrali, at just 17 years old, was chosen among 26 rivals as the organist of the Cathedral of Cremona only then to obtain the appointment as maestro of that same Cathedral Chapel. He was a versatile musician and could easily pass from using the organ to using stringed instruments, the piano and also conducting the orchestra. The Maestro was a prolific composer. Among his works were 71 studies for the modern organ, made up of three books, as well as dramatic operas, pieces for the piano and sacred music. He also wrote the treatise Norme generali sul modo di trattare l’organo moderno, published in Milan in 1872. During his career, he took on prestigious appointments at Brescia, Crema, Pesaro and even in Sicily. Vincenzo Petrali died in Bergamo in 1889.