Born in Venice, Wolf-Ferrari was divided between elements inherited from his Italian mother and those from his German painter father. He studied in Rome and then in Munich and is widely remembered for his Italian comic operas of the first decade of the 20th century. At the same time he was able to explore a more German aspect of his talent in a number of instrumental works.

Operas
Wolf-Ferrari’s better-known operas include Il segreto di Susanna (‘Susanna’s Secret’), I quattro rusteghi (‘The School for Fathers’) and I gioielli della Madonna (‘The Jewels of the Madonna’). His German opera Das Himmelskleid (‘The Garment of Heaven’) explores a different world of German fairy-tales.

Orchestral and Chamber Music
Wolf-Ferrari’s orchestral music includes a Sinfonia da camera, concertos for violin and for cello, and a Concertino for cor anglais and chamber orchestra. His chamber music includes a string duo for viola d’amore and viola da gamba, a string quartet, a Violin Sonata, a Cello Sonata and two piano trios.