Well regarded by EMI record producer and
Philharmonia Orchestra founder
Walter Legge,
Alceo Galliera was often engaged for recordings in the two decades following WWII. Best remembered for his Il barbière di Siviglia with
Maria Callas and
Tito Gobbi,
Galliera was involved in significant symphony and concerto recording projects as well and the results substantially justify
Legge's good opinion. As a composer,
Galliera exhibited a by-no-means negligible talent, though his orchestral works have been infrequently heard following his retirement.
Galliera's first training came from his father, Arnaldo Galliera, a composer and pedagogue whose classes at Parma Conservatory were in organ composition. Following those initial studies,
Alceo was sent to the Milan conservatory, where he concentrated on organ, piano, and composition. His work as a student prompted the conservatory to offer him a post as instructor of organ and organ composition and he began his employment there in 1932. A 1941 conducting debut leading the orchestra of Rome's Accademia di Santa Cecilia led nowhere when
Galliera felt compelled to flee to neutral Switzerland for the duration of WWII. Once hostilities had ended, however, he returned to conducting with a concert at the 1945 Lucerne Festival. No doubt aided by
Legge's connections,
Galliera found a number of engagements beckoning. He appeared in many parts of Europe, in England, South and North America, Israel, and Australia and in 1957 was appointed resident conductor at Genoa's Teatro Carlo Felice. His engagement there lasted until 1960. A routine of guest appearances was interrupted again in 1964 when
Galliera accepted the position of artistic director of the
Strasbourg Philharmonic. The assignment there included his conducting the greater share of concerts; he remained in Strasbourg until 1972. In addition to his excellent work with the famous
Callas' Barber,
Galliera conducted recorded recitals by
Anna Moffo and
Mattiwilda Dobbs and collaborated on disc with such pianists as
Schnabel,
Michelangeli,
Arrau,
Gieseking, and
Lipatti. He also led the
Philharmonia for
Dennis Brain's celebrated recording of
Strauss' first horn concerto.