Giovanni Pacini

Giovanni Pacini ( born February 17, 1796 in Catania, † December 6, 1867 in Pescia ) was an Italian opera composer.

Life

Pacini had his family roots in Tuscany and was a son of the buffo Luigi Pacini ( bass). He received his first musical instruction from his father. Then he came to the conservatory in Bologna, where he became a student of Luigi Marchesi (vocals) and Stanislao Mattei ( counterpoint). Later he moved to Venice, where she learned at Bonaventura Furlanetto.

1813 could Pacini with his first work, the opera Annetta e Lucindo to debut in Milan. Until 1835 all of his works have been performed at major theaters in Italy. This year, his opera Carlo di borgonja fell at the Teatro La Fenice (Venice) by the audience as well as critics. This failure took Pacini as an opportunity to give up composing and to found a private music school in Viareggio. This school had great success; later she established herself in Lucca. After five years of abstinence from the opera stage, during which he studying drama and music theory devoted himself, he returned with Saffo (1840 ) returned to the opera stage and composed some of his most important works such as Maria regina d' Inghilterra and Medea (both 1843) and Allan Cameron ( 1848). Seven months before his death, had his last opera Berta premiere.

Reception

Pacini was neither a consistent innovator such as Giuseppe Verdi, Rossini nor a pure apologist. His later operas vaguely reminiscent of Gaetano Donizetti. Delightful is the often abrupt juxtaposition of old and new style means to him. However, many of his operas often have amazing attention to in the ensembles. Pacini is valid under the bel canto composers as the most interesting rhythmist before Verdi; here he is more variable than Donizetti. His melodies wealth is considerable. Why - as his contemporaries thought - especially his cabalettas should be impressive, is not exactly comprehend; probably fade from the perspective of the following generations something besides those of Verdi.

Works (selection)

In addition to his main work, the more than 80 operas and operettas composed Pacini 35 oratorios and masses. In its smaller odd jobs an emphasis on cantatas. In addition, he also published a number of works for music theory and an autobiography.

• Alessandro nell'Indie. In 1824. ( About Alexander the Great )
• Allan Cameron., 1848.
• Annetta e Lucindo. In 1813.
• Carlo di borgonja. In 1835. (Over Charles the Bold )
• Cesare in Egitto. In 1821. ( About Caesar in Egypt)
• Il conte di stable Chester., 1829.
• Don Giovanni Tenorio, o Il convitato di pietra. In 1832.
• Ivanhoe, 1832
• Maria, regina d' Inghilterra. In 1843. ( About Mary I )
• Medea. In 1843. ( About Medea )
• Niccolò de ' Lapi. In 1873.
• La regina di Cipro. , 1846.
• Saffo. 1841. ( About Sappho )
• Temistocle. 1823. ( About Themistocles )
• L'ultimo giorno di Pompei. In 1825. ( About the Last Days of Pompeii )