Pierantonio Tasca (1858–1934) was an Italian opera composer. His first opera, ''Bianca'', premiered in 1885, to a libretto by

Enrico Golisciani Enrico Golisciani (25 December 1848 – 6 February 1919) was an Italian author, born in Naples. He is best known for his opera librettos, but also published a slim volume of verses for music, entitled ''Pagine d'Album'' (Milano, Ricordi, 1885); ma ...

. Eva Tetrazzini, elder sister of the famous

Luisa Tetrazzini Luisa Tetrazzini (June 29, 1871 in Florence – April 28, 1940 in Milan) was an Italian dramatic coloratura soprano of great international fame. Tetrazzini "had a scintillating voice with a brilliant timbre and a range and agility well b ...

participated in the premiere. His next operas, '' A Santa Lucia'' (1892) and ''Pergolesi'' (1898), had successful premieres in Berlin. The libretto for ''A Santa Lucia'' was written by Enrico Golisciani, based on the book ''Scene popolari napoletane'' (1889) by Goffredo Cognetti (Napoli 1855-Castiglioncello, Livorno 1943). The score was published by Galletti e Cocci (Florence) in 1892. ''Pergolesi'' was based on a libretto by Eugenio Chécchi (Livorno 1838 - Roma 1932). In 1901, an operetta by Tasca called ''Studenti e sartine'' premiered in Tasca's hometown of

Noto Noto ( scn, Notu; la, Netum) is a city and in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy. It is southwest of the city of Syracuse at the foot of the Iblean Mountains. It lends its name to the surrounding area Val di Noto. In 2002 Noto and i ...

, in Sicily. Tasca presented the work using a pseudonym, "D'Anthony." Tasca's next opera to be performed onstage was ''La lupa'', with a libretto by

Giovanni Verga Giovanni Carmelo Verga di Fontanabianca (; 2 September 1840 – 27 January 1922) was an Italian realist ('' verista'') writer, best known for his depictions of life in his native Sicily, especially the short story and later play ''Cavalleria ...

. ''La lupa'' was published in the second decade of the 20th century, but had its premiere in Noto in 1932. Two additional operatic works composed by Tasca, ''La madre'' and ''Scongiuro,'' were never performed. Tasca also wrote a ''Messa da Requiem'', a death elegy to

Edmondo De Amicis Edmondo De Amicis (; 21 October 1846 – 11 March 1908) was an Italian novelist, journalist, poet, and short-story writer. His best-known book is ''Cuore'', a children's novel translated into English as ''Heart''. Early career Born in Oneglia (to ...

, as well as symphonic and chamber music.

References

1858 births 1934 deaths Italian opera composers Male opera composers {{Italy-composer-stub