Francesco Corselli (Piacenza, 19 April 1705 - 3 April 1778 in Madrid) was an Italian composer of the pre-classical period.

Biography

Francesco Corselli (Courcelle) was born on 19 April 1705 in

Piacenza Piacenza (; egl, label= Piacentino, Piaṡëinsa ; ) is a city and in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, and the capital of the eponymous province. As of 2022, Piacenza is the ninth largest city in the region by population, with over ...

, Italy from French parents. He was the director of music for the funerals of

Francesco Farnese Francesco Farnese (19 May 1678 – 26 February 1727) reigned as the seventh Farnese Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1694 until his death. Married to Dorothea Sophia of the Palatinate, his brother Odoardo's widow, to avoid the return of her dowry ...

in Parma in 1724, and

Antonio Farnese Antonio Farnese (29 November 1679 – 20 January 1731) was the eighth and final Farnese Duke of Parma and Piacenza. He married, in 1727, Enrichetta d'Este of Modena with the intention of begetting an heir. The marriage, however, was childle ...

in 1731, and Kapellmeister at the Church of

Santa Maria della Steccata The Shrine of Santa Maria della Steccata is a Greek-cross design Renaissance church in central Parma, Italy. The name derives from the fence (Italian: ''steccato'') in the church. A Nursing Madonna is enshrined within, crowned on 27 May 1601 by ...

, 1727-1731, and simultaneously at the court of Parma, 1727-33. From this period date his first works: the operas ''La Venere placata'' (1731, at the Teatro San Samuele in Venice) and ''Nino'' (1732, at the Reggio Theatre ) and various compositions of religious music, Including the oratorio ''Santa Clotilde'' (1733 in Parma). In 1734 he decided to move to Madrid, Spain where he was active as a tenor, harpsichordist and violinist and music teacher of the Royal Infants. In 1737/38 he joined the "Colegio de cantorcillos" until his death. In 1747, he was appointed director of the Theatre at the

Buen Retiro Buen is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Anders Buen (1864–1933), Norwegian typographer, newspaper editor, trade unionist, and politician *Hauk Buen (1933–2021), Norwegian hardingfele fiddler and fiddle maker *Knut Buen (bo ...

, along with two other Italian composers

Francesco Corradini Francesco, the Italian (and original) version of the personal name "Francis", is the most common given name among males in Italy. Notable persons with that name include: People with the given name Francesco * Francesco I (disambiguation), sever ...

and Giovanni Battista Mele. In Madrid, Corselli composed several operas and many pieces of religious music, especially after he was appointed in 1738 Kapellmeister at the Royal Chapel.L'opéra baroque
/ref> Corselli died in Madrid on 3 April 1778.

Works, editions and recordings

* ''La Venere placata'', opera (1731) * ''Nino'', opera (1732) * ''Oratorio de Santa Clotilde'', opera (1733) * ''

Alessandro nelle Indie ''Alessandro nelle Indie'' (''Alexander in India'') is an opera seria in two acts by Giovanni Pacini to a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola and Giovanni Schmidt, based on ''Alessandro nell'Indie'' by Pietro Metastasio. It was premiered at the Teatro ...

'', opera (1738) * ''Il Farnace'', opera (1739) * ''Achille in Sciro'', opera (1744) * ''La clemenza di Tito'', opera (1747, in collaborazione con Corradini e Mele) Recordings * Francisco Corselli: Maestro de la Capilla del Rey de España - Opera overtures and marches. "A ti, invisible Ruiseñor Canoro," Christmas cantata. Lamentations - Lectio 2nd in Sabato Sancto, for soprano solo, violins, flutes & trumpets. Lamentación 2nd del Jueves, for soprano solo, violins & muted cellos. "Hasta aquí, Dios amante," cantata for solo soprano, violins, oboes, viola & continuo. Núria Rial, El Concierto Español,

Emilio Moreno Emilio Moreno is a Spanish violin and viola player and conductor. With his brother José Miguel Moreno, a lutenist, he founded Glossa Music.Billboard - 18 Jul 1998 - Page 46 Vol. 110, No. 29 "One of the most compelling is Glossa, founded in 1992 as ...

Glossa Music Glossa is a classical music record label based in Spain. The label was founded in 1992 by brothers José Miguel Moreno, a lutenist, and Emilio Moreno a violinist. The label is Spain's first independent classical label.Billboard - 18 Jul 1998 - Page ...

References

*
Musica barocca
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Corselli, Francesco 1705 births 1778 deaths 18th-century Italian composers 18th-century Italian male musicians Italian male composers People from Piacenza Italian emigrants to Spain