Martucci was a child prodigy who became a pupil in piano and composition at the Naples Conservatory by the age of 11. Four years later he began a successful career as a pianist, touring to England, Ireland and France as well as all over Italy. He became professor of piano at Naples Conservatory in 1881, and moved to Bologna Conservatory as its Director in 1886. As both pianist and conductor his concert programmes were wide-ranging and included music by composers not often heard in Italy at the time such as Brahms and Wagner. He conducted the Italian premiere of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde in Bologna in 1888. His composition pupils included Respighi, and he played an important part in reviving public interest in non-operatic orchestral music in Italy.