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Paisiello at the clavichord, by Marie Louise Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, 1791. The score is Nina, o sia La pazza per amore.

Giovanni Paisiello (or Paesiello; 9 May 1740 – 5 June 1816) was an Italian composer of the Classical era.

Life[edit]

Paisiello was born in Taranto and educated by the Jesuits there. He became known for his beautiful singing voice and in 1754 was sent to the Conservatorio di S. Onofrio at Naples, where he studied under Francesco Durante, and eventually became assistant master. For the theatre of the Conservatorio, which he left in 1763, he wrote some intermezzi, one of which attracted so much notice that he was invited to write two operas, La Pupilla and Il Mondo al Rovescio, for Bologna, and a third, Il Marchese di Tidipano, for Rome.

His reputation now firmly established, he settled for some years at Naples, where, despite the popularity of Niccolò Piccinni, Domenico Cimarosa and Pietro Guglielmi, of whose triumphs he was bitterly jealous, he produced a series of highly successful operas, one of which, L'ldolo cinese, made a deep impression upon the Neapolitan public.

In 1772 Paisiello began to write church music, and composed a requiem for Gennara di Borbone, of the reigning dynasty. In the same year he married Cecilia Pallini, and the marriage was a happy one. In 1776 Paisiello was invited by the empress Catherine II of Russia to St. Petersburg, where he remained for eight years, producing, among other charming works, his masterpiece, Il barbiere di Siviglia, which soon attained a European reputation. The fate of this opera marks an epoch in the history of Italian art; for with it the gentle suavity cultivated by the masters of the 18th century died out to make room for the dazzling brilliance of a later period.

When, in 1816, Gioachino Rossini set a revised version of the libretto to music, under the title of "Almaviva ossia la inutil precauzione" the fans of Paisiello stormed the stage. Rossini's opera, now known as Il barbiere di Siviglia, is now acknowledged as Rossini's greatest work, while Paisiello's opera is only infrequently produced—a strange instance of poetical vengeance, since Paisiello himself had many years previously endeavoured to eclipse the fame of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi by resetting the libretto of his famous intermezzo, La serva padrona.

Paisiello left Russia in 1784, and, after producing Il Re Teodoro at Vienna, entered the service of Ferdinand IV of Naples, where he composed many of his best operas, including Nina and La Molinara. After many vicissitudes, resulting from political and dynastic changes, he was invited to Paris (1802) by Napoleon, whose favor he had won five years previously by composing a march for the funeral of General Hoche. Napoleon treated him munificently, while cruelly neglecting two more famous composers, Luigi Cherubini and Etienne Méhul, to whom the new favorite transferred the hatred he had formerly borne to Cimarosa, Guglielmi and Piccinni.

Paisiello conducted the music of the court in the Tuileries with a stipend of 10,000 francs and 4800 for lodging, but he entirely failed to conciliate the Parisian public, who received his opera Proserpine so coldly that, in 1803, he requested and with some difficulty obtained permission to return to Italy, upon the plea of his wife's ill health. On his arrival at Naples Paisiello was reinstated in his former appointments by Joseph Bonaparte and Joachim Murat, but he had taxed his genius beyond its strength, and was unable to meet the demands now made upon it for new ideas. His prospects, too, were precarious. The power of the Bonaparte family was tottering to its fall; and Paisiello's fortunes fell with it. The death of his wife in 1815 tried him severely. His health failed rapidly, and constitutional jealousy of the popularity of others was a source of worry and vexation.

Paisiello is known to have composed 94 operas, which are known for their gracefully beautiful melodies. Perhaps the best-known tune he ever wrote is Nel cor più non mi sento from La Molinara, immortalized when Beethoven composed variations based on it. Paisiello also wrote a great deal of church music, including eight masses; as well as fifty-one instrumental compositions and many stand-alone songs. He also composed the Inno al Re, the national anthem of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Manuscript scores of many of his operas were presented to the library of the British Museum by Domenico Dragonetti.

The library of the Gerolamini at Naples possesses an interesting manuscript compilation recording Paisiello's opinions on contemporary composers, and exhibiting him as a somewhat severe critic, especially of the work of Pergolesi.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music^[1] notes that "Paisiello was one of the most successful and influential opera composers of his time. Most of his over 80 operas are comic and use a simple, direct and spirited style, latterly with sharper characterization, more colorful scoring and warmer melodies (features that influenced Mozart). His serious operas have less than the conventional amount of virtuoso vocal writing; those for Russia are the closest to Gluck's 'reform' approach."

Works[edit]

Musical style[edit]

Paisiello was primarily an opera composer. His instrumental works are therefore imbued with a similar vocally conceived melodic line, granted they may be lacking in the sophisticated counterpoint and motivic work of Haydn and Mozart's music. This characterization, however, does not do justice to the extreme drama and topical contrast in all his works such as the Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor. (CD Naxos 8.557031. Francesco Nicolosi, Piano, Collegium Philarmonicum Chamber Orchestra - Gennaro Cappabianca, Conductor.) Essentially he had mastered all the techniques which made for good opera, and this made his works widely popular and admired throughout Europe.

Operas[edit]

• R 1.00 La moglie in calzoni (18.2.1764, Modena)
• R 1.01 Il ciarlone (12.5.1764, Bologna) — lost
• R 1.02 I francesi brillanti (24.6.1764, Bologna)
• R 1.03 Madama l'umorista, o Gli stravaganti (26.1.1765, Modena) — lost
• R 1.04 L'amore in ballo (carnival 1765, Venice S Moisè)
• R 1.05 La mascherata delle nozze di Bacco e d'Arianna (11.2.1765, Modena)
• I bagni d'Abano (spring 1765, Parma)
• Il negligente (1765, Parma)
• Pulcinella vendicato nel ritorno di marechiaro (1765, Naples, Teatro Bellini)
• R 1.05a Le virtuose ridicole (1765, Parma)
• R 1.06 Le nozze disturbate (carnival 1776, Venice S Moisè)
• R 1.07 Le finte contesse (2.1766, Rome Valle) [Il Marchese di Tulissano?]
• R 1.08 La vedova di bel genio (spring 1766, Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.09 Le 'mbroglie de le Bajasse (carnival 1767, Naples) — lost
• R 1.09a La serva fatta padrona (summer 1769, Naples) 2nd version of Le 'mbroglie de le Bajasse
• R 1.10 L'idolo cinese (spring 1767, Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.11 Licenza to L'idolo cinese
• R 1.12 Lucio Papirio dittatore (summer 1767, Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• R 1.13 Il furbo malaccorto (winter 1767, Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.14 Alceste in Ebuda, ovvero Olimpia (20.1.1768, Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• R 1.15 Le nozze di Peleo e Tetide (31.5.1768, Naples PR) [Festa teatrale in musica]
• R 1.16 Licenza to Peleo
• R 1.17 La luna abitata (summer 1768, Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.18 La finta maga per vendetta (autumn? 1768, Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
• R 1.19 L'osteria di Marechiaro (winter 1768, Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
• R 1.20 La Claudia vendicata (performed as act III of L'osteria 1770, Naples)
• R 1.21 Don Chisciotte della Mancia (summer 1769, Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
• R 1.22 L'arabo cortese (winter 1769 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.23 La Zelmira, o sia La marina del Granatello (summer 1770 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.24 Le trame per amore (7.10.1770 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.25 Demetrio (Lent 1771, Modena)
• R 1.26 Annibale in Torino (16.1.1771 Turin, Teatro Regio di Torino)
• R 1.27 La somiglianza de' nomi (spring 1771 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.28 and 1.29 I scherzi d'amore e di fortuna (summer 1771 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.30 Artaserse (26.12.1771 Modena)
• R 1.31 Semiramide in villa (carnival 1772 Rome, Teatro Capranica)
• R 1.32 Motezuma (1.1772 Rome, Dame)
• R 1.33 La Dardanè (spring 1772 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.34 Gli amante comici (autumn 1772 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• Don Anchise Campanone (1773 Venice) [rev. Gli amante comici]
• R 1.35 L'innocente fortunata (carnival 1773 Venice S Moisè)
• R 1.36 Sismano nel Mogol (carnival 1773 Milan, Teatro Regio Ducal)
• R 1.37 Il tamburo (spring 1773 Naples, Teatro Nuovo) [Il tamburo notturno]
• R 1.38 La semplice fortunata (summer 1773, Naples)
• R 1.39 Alessandro nell'Indie (26.12.1773 Modena) — fragment
• R 1.40 Andromeda (carnival 1774 Milan, Teatro Regio Ducal)
• R 1.41 Il duello (spring 1774 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.42 Il credulo deluso (autumn 1774 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.43 La frascatana (autumn 1774 Venice, S Samuele) [L'infante de Zamora]
• R 1.44 Il divertimento dei numi (4.12.1774 Naples, Reale)
• R 1.45 Demofoonte (carnival 1775 Venice, S Benedetto)
• R 1.46 La discordia fortunata (carnival 1775 Venice, S Samuele) [L'avaro deluso]
• R 1.47 Le astuzie amorose (spring 1775 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.48 Socrate immaginario (autumn 1775 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.49 Il gran Cid (3.11.1775 Florence, Teatro La Pergola)
• R 1.50 Le due contesse (3.1.1776 Rome, Teatro Capranica in Palazzo alla Valle)
• R 1.51 La disfatta di Dario (carnival 1776 Rome, Teatro Argentina)
• R 1.52 Dal finto il vero (spring 1776 Naples, Teatro Nuovo)
• R 1.53 Il finto spettro (26.12.1776, Mannheim)
• R 1.54 Nitteti (28.1.1777 St. Petersburg)
• R 1.55 Lucinda e Armidoro (autumn1777 St. Petersburg)
• R 1.56 Achille in Sciro (6.2.1778 St. Petersburg)
• R 1.57 Lo sposo burlato (24.7.1778 St. Petersburg)
• R 1.58 Gli astrologi immaginari (14.2.1779 St. Petersburg, Hermitage) [I filosofi immaginari], [Le philosophe imaginaire]
• R 1.59 Demetrio (13.6.1779, Tsarskoye Selo)
• R 1.60 Il matrimonio inaspettato (1779 Kammenïy Ostrov) [La contadina di spirito]
• R 1.61 La finta amante (5.6.1780 Mogilev) [Camiletta]
• R 1.62 Alcide al bivio (6.12.1780 St. Petersburg, Hermitage)
• R 1.63 La serva padrona (10?.9.1781 Tsarskoye Selo)
• Il duello comico (1782 Tsarskoye Selo) [rev. Il duello]
• R 1.64 Il barbiere di Siviglia, ovvero La precauzione inutile (26.9.1782 St. Petersburg)
• R 1.65 Il mondo della luna (1782 Kammenïy Ostrov)
• R 1.66 Il re Teodoro in Venezia (23.8.1784 Vienna, Burg)
• R 1.67 Antigono (12.10.1785 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• R 1.68 L'amor ingegnoso, o sia La giovane scaltra (carnival 1785 Padua)
• R 1.69 La grotta di Trofonio (12.1785 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
• R 1.70 Olimpiade (20.1.1786 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• R 1.71 Le gare generose (spring 1786 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini) [Gli schiavi per amore; Le bon maître, ou L'esclave par amour]
• R 1.72 Pirro (12.1.1787 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• Il barbiere di Siviglia, ovvero La precauzione inutile [rev] (1787 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
• R 1.73 Giunone e Lucina (8.9.1787 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• R 1.74 La modista raggiratrice (autumn 1787 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini) [La scuffiara amante, o sia Il maestro di scuola napolitano; La scuffiara raggiratrice]
• R 1.75 Fedra (1.1.1788 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• R 1.76 L'amor contrastato (carnival 1789 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini) [L'amor contrastato o sia La molinarella]
• R 1.77 Catone in Utica (5.2.1789 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• R 1.78 Nina, o sia La pazza per amore (25.6.1789 Caserta)
• R 1.79 I zingari in fiera (21.11.1789 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentinio)
• R 1.80 Le vane gelosie (spring 1790 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
• R 1.81 Zenobia in Palmira (30.5.1790 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• La molinara (1790 Vienna) [rev. L'amor contrastato]
• Nina, o sia La pazza per amore [rev] (1790 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
• R 1.82 Ipermestra (6.1791 Padua)
• R 1.83 La locanda (16.6.1791 London Pantheon) [La locanda di falcone; Lo stambo in Berlina]
• R 1.84 I giuochi d'Agrigento (16.5.1792 Venice, Fenice)
• Il fanatico in Berlina (1792 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini) [rev. La locanda]
• R 1.85 Il ritorno d'Idomeneo in Creta (autumn 1792 Perugia) — lost
• R 1.86 Elfrida (4.11.1792 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo) [Adevolto]
• R 1.87 Elvira (12.1.1794 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• R 1.88 Didone abbandonata (4.11.1794 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• Nina, o sia La pazza per amore [rev 2] (1795 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentini)
• Chi la dura la vince (9.6.1797 Milan S)
• R 1.89 La Daunia felice (26.6.1797 Foggia, Palazzo Dogana)
• R 1.90 Andromaca (4.11.1797 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)
• R 1.91 L'inganno felice (1798 Naples, Teatro dei Fiorentinio)
• R 1.92 L'isola disabitata (3.7.1799, Lisbon) — lost
• R 1.93 La Pace
• R 1.94 Proserpine (28.3.1803 Paris, Opéra)
• R 1.95 Elisa (19.3.1807 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo) [+ Mayr]
• R 1.96 I pittagorici (19.3.1808 Naples, Teatro di S Carlo)