Francesco Bartolomeo Conti

Francesco Bartolomeo Conti ( born January 20, 1681 Florence, † July 20, 1732 in Vienna ) was an Italian Theorbenspieler and composer of the late Baroque.

Life

Already in the years 1699-1701 was Conti, who was employed by Cardinal Francesco Maria de ' Medici, known of his native Florence, including Milan and Florence. The thus obtained reputation enabled him probably in 1701, at the time of Emperor Leopold I to get in the Vienna Court Orchestra employment as Hilfstheorbist. In 1705 he left Vienna and traveled with Giovanni Bononcini in Berlin and London, where the performances of his operas conducted. Conti was able to gain experience in the opera business that were useful to him later. Back in Vienna, Conti in 1708 first theorbist the court orchestra in 1711, he was appointed Vice - Kapellmeister and in 1713 as the successor of Johann Joseph Fux the court composer. 1726, he was inducted into the prestigious Accademia Filarmonica of Bologna. Johann Joachim Quantz commented on Conti: " An inventive and fiery, though sometimes a bit bizarre composer ". A son, Ignazio Maria Conti (1699-1759) was theorbo player in the Vienna Court Orchestra.

Work

Conti joined successfully the new Neapolitan opera style of the Vienna Opera tradition. He stepped out mainly by its 24 stage compositions. His compositions include several instrumental works and the first known sonata for solo mandolin, numerous cantatas ( including his edited by Bach solo cantata " Languet anima mea " ), and the tragic- comic opera Don Quixote in Sierra Morena.