Pietro Cimara (1887-1967) was an Italian composer, pianist and conductor, particularly associated with song and the operatic world. Born in Rome, he worked as an accompanist and coach as well as a composer.

Cimara wrote songs, piano pieces and vocal music, and his works were taken up by singers within the Italian recital tradition. His name often appears in historic vocal programmes beside better-known operatic and salon composers.

His musical language is lyrical, graceful and shaped by the needs of the voice. Rather than seeking large-scale innovation, Cimara excelled in the compact emotional theatre of the song.

For collectors of historic recordings, composers like Cimara form part of the repertoire’s intimate furniture. His music belongs to the world of the recital encore, where a few minutes can leave a surprisingly persistent trace.