Alessandro Curmi
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Curmi (17 October 1801 – April 1857) was a Maltese
composer
and pianist
. Born in Valletta
, he studied privately with Pietro Paolo Bugeja and then under Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli
and Giacomo Tritto
at the San Pietro a Maiella Conservatory in Naples
from 1821 to 1827. He later became a member of Bologna's Accademia Filarmonica.
As a composer Curmi was primarily focused on writing opera
s. His first opera, Gustavo d'Orxa, was received enthusiastically at the Teatro Nuovo in Naples in 1827. His greatest success, Elodia di Herstall, came at the Teatro di San Carlo
in 1842. According to Curmi's personal friend and fellow composer Paolino Vassallo, Curmi was invited to London to compose three operas for the Royal Opera, London
while on a brief visit to Paris (where he wrote the cantata Sancte Paule) in 1843. The three operas, La rosièr, La reine des fates, and Lodoïska were all performed there in 1844.
Curmi returned to Paris in the winter of 1845 with the intent of composing a grand opera. However, these plans never came to fruition because of the political situation in France. Instead Curmi composed the orchestral fantasia in six sections, La rivoluzione, which was also heard in Malta in 1853. He died in Naples in 1857.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. Born in Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, he studied privately with Pietro Paolo Bugeja and then under Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli
Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli
Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli was an Italian composer, chiefly of opera.-Early career:Zingarelli was born in Naples, where he studied at the Santa Maria di Loreto Conservatory under Fenaroli and Speranza....
and Giacomo Tritto
Giacomo Tritto
Giacomo Domenico Mario Antonio Pasquale Giuseppe Tritto was an Italian composer, known primarily for his 54 operas. He was born in Altamura, and studied in Naples; among his teachers were Nicola Fago, Girolamo Abos, and Pasquale Cafaro. One of his pupil was Ferdinando Orlandi...
at the San Pietro a Maiella Conservatory in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
from 1821 to 1827. He later became a member of Bologna's Accademia Filarmonica.
As a composer Curmi was primarily focused on writing opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s. His first opera, Gustavo d'Orxa, was received enthusiastically at the Teatro Nuovo in Naples in 1827. His greatest success, Elodia di Herstall, came at the Teatro di San Carlo
Teatro di San Carlo
The Real Teatro di San Carlo is an opera house in Naples, Italy. It is the oldest continuously active such venue in Europe.Founded by the Bourbon Charles VII of Naples of the Spanish branch of the dynasty, the theatre was inaugurated on 4 November 1737 — the king's name day — with a performance...
in 1842. According to Curmi's personal friend and fellow composer Paolino Vassallo, Curmi was invited to London to compose three operas for the Royal Opera, London
Royal Opera, London
The Royal Opera is an opera company based in central London, resident at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Along with the English National Opera, it is one of the two principal opera companies in London. Founded in 1946 as the Covent Garden Opera Company, it was known by that title until 1968...
while on a brief visit to Paris (where he wrote the cantata Sancte Paule) in 1843. The three operas, La rosièr, La reine des fates, and Lodoïska were all performed there in 1844.
Curmi returned to Paris in the winter of 1845 with the intent of composing a grand opera. However, these plans never came to fruition because of the political situation in France. Instead Curmi composed the orchestral fantasia in six sections, La rivoluzione, which was also heard in Malta in 1853. He died in Naples in 1857.
Source
- Joseph Vella Bondin. "Curmi [Curmy], Alessandro", Grove Dictionary of Music and MusiciansGrove Dictionary of Music and MusiciansThe New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
.