A prominent late Baroque composer in Italy, producing in
excess of 600 cantatas, 100 operas, as well as many oratorios, serenatas and
instrumental pieces, Alessandro Scarlatti also partially owes his fame to being
the father of Domenico Scarlatti, one of the most influential and creative
composers of keyboard music during the 18th century. Recognition of Alessandro's
music waned after his death and was resigned to wait until the 20th
century to be revived. He was born in Palermo on May 2, 1660 but little is
known of his early life and musical education. At the age of twelve, he was
sent to Rome and may have studied with Giacomo Carissimi. There is also a
possibility that he was connected in some way during this time with northern Italy
as his early music shows the influence of Alessandro Stradella and Giovanni
Legrenzi.
A production of Gli
Equivoci nell sembiante (1679) in Rome drew the interest of Queen Christina
of Sweden, who at the time was residing in the city, and Scarlatti became her maestro di capella, holding the post
until 1684. Following his leave from the Queen's service, he departed for
Naples where he served in the same position to the Viceroy of Naples, Marquis
del Carpio, and produced a large number of operas.
Scarlatti left Naples in 1702 and travelled to Florence with
his son, Domenico. He had hoped to secure a post with Ferdinando de' Medici,
but was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, he did produce a fair amount of music for
the Prince's private theater. The following year, he returned to Rome as the music
director of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. Yet, the Pope's ban on
theatrical performances was vexing, to say the least, to such a prolific
composer of opera. Despite being promoted to maestro di capella in 1707, Scarlatti left Rome once again for
Naples, this time because of financial reasons, and returned to serve in his
former post. However, the move was not entirely beneficial. Though Scarlatti
continued to compose at a prolific rate, the Neapolitan public had grown cold
to his music. Ironically, the Pope's ban on theatrical music was lifted and
Scarlatti's operas were much more favorably received in Rome, where he spent
much of the years of 1718-22. Despite all this, Scarlatti's financial situation
worsened. He returned to Naples in 1722 and his creative output began to
decrease. On October 24, 1725, he died in Naples.
Alessandro Scarlatti
Biography
A prominent late Baroque composer in Italy, producing in excess of 600 cantatas, 100 operas, as well as many oratorios, serenatas and instrumental pieces, Alessandro Scarlatti also partially owes his fame to being the father of Domenico Scarlatti, one of the most influential and creative composers of keyboard music during the 18th century. Recognition of Alessandro's music waned after his death and was resigned to wait until the 20th century to be revived. He was born in Palermo on May 2, 1660 but little is known of his early life and musical education. At the age of twelve, he was sent to Rome and may have studied with Giacomo Carissimi. There is also a possibility that he was connected in some way during this time with northern Italy as his early music shows the influence of Alessandro Stradella and Giovanni Legrenzi.
A production of Gli Equivoci nell sembiante (1679) in Rome drew the interest of Queen Christina of Sweden, who at the time was residing in the city, and Scarlatti became her maestro di capella, holding the post until 1684. Following his leave from the Queen's service, he departed for Naples where he served in the same position to the Viceroy of Naples, Marquis del Carpio, and produced a large number of operas.
Scarlatti left Naples in 1702 and travelled to Florence with his son, Domenico. He had hoped to secure a post with Ferdinando de' Medici, but was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, he did produce a fair amount of music for the Prince's private theater. The following year, he returned to Rome as the music director of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. Yet, the Pope's ban on theatrical performances was vexing, to say the least, to such a prolific composer of opera. Despite being promoted to maestro di capella in 1707, Scarlatti left Rome once again for Naples, this time because of financial reasons, and returned to serve in his former post. However, the move was not entirely beneficial. Though Scarlatti continued to compose at a prolific rate, the Neapolitan public had grown cold to his music. Ironically, the Pope's ban on theatrical music was lifted and Scarlatti's operas were much more favorably received in Rome, where he spent much of the years of 1718-22. Despite all this, Scarlatti's financial situation worsened. He returned to Naples in 1722 and his creative output began to decrease. On October 24, 1725, he died in Naples.