Fabio Campana (14 January 1819 – 2 February 1882) was an Italian

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

, opera director, conductor, and singing teacher who composed eight

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

s which premiered between 1838 and 1869.Ambìveri (1998) p. 32 He was born in

Livorno Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 152,916 residents as of 2025. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn ...

, the city where his first two operas premiered, but in the early 1850s he settled in London. There he opened a famous singing school, conducted concerts, and continued his reputation as a prolific and popular composer of

art song An art song is a Western world, Western vocal music Musical composition, composition, usually written for one voice with piano accompaniment, and usually in the classical music, classical art music tradition. By extension, the term "art song" is ...

s and concert

aria In music, an aria (, ; : , ; ''arias'' in common usage; diminutive form: arietta, ; : ariette; in English simply air (music), air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrument (music), instrumental or orchestral accompan ...

s. His last opera, ''Esmeralda'', premiered in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

in 1869, followed by London performances in 1870 with

Adelina Patti Adelina Patti (19 February 184327 September 1919) was a Spanish-Italian opera singer. At the height of her career, she was earning huge fees performing in the music capitals of Europe and America. She first sang in public as a child in 1851, a ...

in the title role. Campana died in London at the age of 63. Although his operas are no longer performed, his art songs can be heard on several modern recordings.

Life and career

Campana was born in

and initially studied music there with Bernardo Nucci before going on to further studies at the

Naples Conservatory This is a list of music conservatories in Naples, Italy. Conservatorio di San Pietro a Majella The Naples Conservatory of Music is a music school located in Naples, Italy. It is situated in the complex of San Pietro a Majella. It was originally ...

and finally at the

Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna The Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna ("philharmonic academy of Bologna"; sometimes known in English as the Bologna Academy of Music) is a music education institution in Bologna, Italy. The Accademia de' Filarmonici was founded as an associ ...

. His first opera ''Caterina di Guisa'', set to a libretto by

Felice Romani Giuseppe Felice Romani (31 January 178828 January 1865) was an Italian poet and scholar of literature and mythology who wrote many librettos for the opera composers Donizetti and Bellini. Romani was considered the finest Italian librettist betw ...

, premiered while he was still a student.Forbes It was first performed on 14 August 1838 at the Teatro degli Avvalorati in Livorno, with

Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma, to a family of moderate means, recei ...

's future wife

Giuseppina Strepponi Clelia Maria Giuseppa (Giuseppina) Strepponi (Lodi, Lombardy, Lodi, 8 September 1815 – Villanova sull'Arda, 14 November 1897) was a nineteenth-century Italian operatic soprano of great renown and the second wife of composer Giuseppe Verdi ...

in the title role.Casaglia The opera was warmly received as was his next opera ''Giulio d'Este'' which premiered at the same theatre in 1841. Campana also directed several operas at the theatre, including Mercadante's ''

Il giuramento ''Il giuramento'' (''The Oath'') is an opera in three acts by Italian composer Saverio Mercadante. The libretto, by Gaetano Rossi, is based on Victor Hugo's 1835 play '' Angelo, Tyrant of Padua''. (This is the same source as Arrigo Boito, under ...

'' (1839), Donizetti's ''

Lucia di Lammermoor ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' () is a (tragic opera) in three acts by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian-language libretto loosely based upon Sir Walter Scott's 1819 historical novel '' The Bride of Lammermoor''. ...

'' (1840), Meyerbeer's ''

Il crociato in Egitto (''The Crusader in Egypt'') is an opera in two acts by Giacomo Meyerbeer, with a libretto by Gaetano Rossi. It was first performed at La Fenice theatre, Venice on 7 March 1824. The part of Armando was sung by the famous castrato, Giovanni Batt ...

'' (1840), and Bellini's '' Il pirata'' (1840). In addition to conducting the premiere of his own opera, ''Vannina d'Ornano'' at the

Teatro della Pergola The Teatro della Pergola (), sometimes known as just La Pergola, is a historic opera house in Florence, Italy. It is located in the centre of the city on the Via della Pergola, from which the theatre takes its name. It was built in 1656 under the p ...

in Florence (1842), he conducted a series of concerts in Rome, including a performance of Rossini's ''

Stabat Mater The Stabat Mater is a 13th-century Christian hymn to the Virgin Mary that portrays her suffering as mother during the crucifixion of her son Jesus Christ. Its author may be either the Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi or Pope Innocent III.Saba ...

''. His last opera to be premiered in Italy was ''Mazeppa'', with a libretto based on

Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824) was an English poet. He is one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, and is regarded as being among the greatest poets of the United Kingdom. Among his best-kno ...

's narrative poem, ''

Mazeppa Mazepa or Mazeppa is the surname of Ivan Mazepa, a Ukrainian hetman made famous worldwide by a poem by Lord Byron. It may refer to: Artistic works Poems * Mazeppa (poem), "Mazeppa" (poem) (1819), a dramatic poem by Lord Byron * "Mazeppa", a poem b ...

''. It was first performed at the

Teatro Comunale di Bologna The Teatro Comunale di Bologna is an opera house in Bologna, Italy. Typically, it presents eight operas with six performances during its November to April season. While there had been various theatres presenting opera in Bologna since the early ...

on 6 November 1850 with the tenor Settimio Malvezzi in the title role. Adelina Patti as Esmeralda ca 1870

In 1850 Campana had gone to Paris, armed with a letter of recommendation from

Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. He gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano p ...

to seek a position at the Théâtre des Italiens which at that time was run by

Benjamin Lumley Benjamin Lumley (1811 – 17 March 1875 in London) was a British North America-born British people, British opera manager and solicitor. Born Benjamin Levy, he was the son of a Jewish merchant, Louis Levy. Beginnings at His Majesty's Theatre Lu ...

. He was unsuccessful, however, and returned to Italy. Then on the suggestion of Lord Ward, a principal benefactor of

Her Majesty's Theatre His Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre situated in the Haymarket, London, Haymarket in the City of Westminster, London. The building, designed by Charles J. Phipps, was constructed in 1897 for the actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who ...

, he went to London where he was to live for the rest of his life. There he opened a famous singing school, conducted concerts, and continued his reputation as a prolific and popular composer of

s.Sanvitale (2002) p. 153 The first of his "Grand Matinee Musicale" concerts took place in 1854 under the patronage of Lord Ward, and featured his latest compositions. The 1860s saw the premieres of his last two operas. ''Almina'' premiered in London at Her Majesty's Theatre on 26 April 1860 conducted by

Luigi Arditi Luigi Arditi (16 July 1822 – 1 May 1903) was an Italian violinist, composer and conductor. Life Arditi was born in Crescentino, Piemonte, Kingdom of Sardinia. He began his musical career as a violinist, and studied music at the Milan Cons ...

with Marietta Piccolomini in the title role. The critical reaction was tepid. ''The Musical World'' criticised its lack of "dramatic fire", but also went on to note that the audience did not appear to share that view:

Taking applause as a criterion, the success of ''Almina'' was triumphant. After the first act, the principal singers were recalled, and then Signor Campana was compelled to appear, when he was not merely received with tumultuous acclamations, but fêted with bouquets and laurel-wreaths. At the fall of the curtain, too, he was summoned to the foot-lights twice, when the demonstrations were renewed, and no doubt the composer left the theatre perfectly satisfied that his opera had achieved a great and legitimate triumph. First nights, however, are not always precedents—the Barbiere of Rossini to witness.

Campana's final opera ''Esmeralda'', based on

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romanticism, Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician. His most famous works are the novels ''The Hunchbac ...

's ''

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame ''The Hunchback of Notre-Dame'' (, originally titled ''Notre-Dame de Paris. 1482'') is a French Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. The title refers to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which features prominently throughout the novel. I ...

'', premiered in Russia at the

Imperial Italian Opera on 20 December 1869. The title role had been written expressly for

, but she could not make the Saint Petersburg premiere and the role was sung by Carolina Volpi instead. In June of the following year, it was mounted in London at the

Theatre Royal, Covent Garden The Royal Opera House (ROH) is a theatre in Covent Garden, central London. The building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. The ROH is the main home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet, and the Orch ...

this time with Adelina Patti as Esmeralda. The French journal ''

Le Ménestrel ''Le Ménestrel'' (, ''The Minstrel'') was an influential French music journal published weekly from 1833 until 1940. It was founded by Joseph-Hippolyte l'Henry and originally printed by Poussièlgue. In 1840 it was acquired by the music publishe ...

'' reporting on the Saint Petersburg premiere praised the opera for its beautiful melodies and orchestration. The English critics' reaction to the London premiere was scathing. Henry Lunn, writing in ''

The Musical Times ''The Musical Times'' was an academic journal of classical music edited and produced in the United Kingdom. It was originally created by Joseph Mainzer in 1842 as ''Mainzer's Musical Times and Singing Circular'', but in 1844 he sold it to Alfr ...

'', called it "a feeble work" with "commonplace" music, rescued only by the singing of Patti. The critic for '' The Saturday Review'' pronounced it "irredeemably bad". However, in his review of the London performance for ''Le Ménestrel'', Joseph Tagliafico (writing under his pseudonym "De Retz") took exception to the vehemence of the English critics' reaction finding it inexplicable. He concluded his review:

They say of Campana's opera that it is implya new ''Album of Songs'' by the composer. Bah! Could not one also say that Donizetti's ''
La favorite ''La favorite'' (''The Favourite'', frequently referred to by its Italian title: ''La favorita'') is a grand opera in four acts by Gaetano Donizetti to a French-language libretto by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz, based on the play ''Le com ...
'' is a
romanza ''Romanza'' is the first compilation album by Italian tenor singer Andrea Bocelli, released internationally in 1997. Although a compilation, ''Romanza'' is considered Bocelli's breakthrough album and is his most commercially successful, topping ...
in five acts? The future will decide who was right and who was wrong.

''Esmeralda'' ran for a couple of seasons in London and was also performed in

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

(again with Patti in the title role) and in

Trieste Trieste ( , ; ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital and largest city of the Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as well as of the Province of Trieste, ...

but then dropped from the repertoire. Fabio Campana died in London on 2 February 1882 at the age of 63. His operas are no longer performed, but his art songs can be heard on several modern recordings, including

Opera Rara Opera Rara is a London-based opera company and recording label which specialises in recording and performing forgotten operatic repertoire from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in 1970 by bel canto enthusiasts Patric Schmid and Don Whi ...

's ''Il Salotto'' series, and

Joan Sutherland Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, (7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010) was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano known for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s to the 1980s. She possessed a voice ...

's 1978 LP set ''Serate Musicali'' (re-released on CD by

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, record label * Decca Gold, classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, musical theater record label * Decca Studios, recording facility in West ...

in 2006). A portrait of Campana by

Giovanni Fattori Giovanni Fattori (September 6, 1825August 30, 1908) was an Italian artist, one of the leaders of the group known as the Macchiaioli. He was initially a painter of historical themes and military subjects. In his middle years, inspired by the Bar ...

hangs in the Museo Civico Giovanni Fattori in Livorno.

Operas

*''Caterina di Guisa'' (tragedy in 3 acts, libretto by Felice Romani; premiered Livorno, Teatro degli Avvalorati, 14 August 1838) *''Giulio d'Este'' (tragedy in 3 acts, libretto by Carlo Alberto Monteverde; premiered Livorno, Teatro degli Avvalorati, 28 August 1841) *''Vannina d'Ornano'' (tragedy in 3 acts, libretto by Francesco Guidi; premiered Florence,

, 1 June 1842) *''Luisa di Francia'' (melodrama in 4 parts, libretto by Francesco Guidi; premiered Rome,

Teatro Argentina The Teatro Argentina (directly translating to "Theatre Argentina") is an opera house and theatre located in Largo di Torre Argentina, a square in Rome, Italy. One of the oldest theatres in Rome, it was constructed in 1731 and inaugurated on 31 ...

, 29 April 1844) *''La Duchessa de La Vallière'' (melodrama in 4 parts, libretto by Francesco Guidi; Livorno, Teatro Rossini, summer 1849) *''Mazeppa'' (lyric drama in 4 parts, libretto by Achille de Lauzières-Thémines; premiered Bologna, Teatro Comunale, 6 November 1850) *''Almina'' (lyric drama in 3 acts, libretto by Achille de Lauzières-Thémines, premiered London,

, 26 April 1860) *''Esmeralda'' (lyric drama in 4 acts, libretto by Giorgio Tommaso Cimino; premiered

, Imperial Italian Opera, 20 December 1869)

Songs

Campana composed at least two patriotic songs during the 1848–1849 Italian revolutions. One was set to Arcangelo Berettoni's poem "La costituente italiana" (The Italian Constituent). The other, "Inno nazionale" (National Hymn) set to a text by Franco Carrai, became the most frequently sung song in Livorno at the time. He also composed a chorus to accompany a dramatic allegory performed at the Teatro degli Avvalorati in 1847 to celebrate

Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold II, , English: ''Leopold John Joseph Francis Ferdinand Charles''. (3 October 1797 – 29 January 1870) was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1824 to 1859. He married twice; first to Maria Anna of Saxony, and after her death in 1832, to Mari ...

granting Livorno its own Civil Guard. Between 1846 and 1854,

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

, the firm which had commissioned Verdi's early opera ''

Il corsaro ''Il corsaro'' (''The Corsair'') is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, from a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on Lord Byron's 1814 poem '' The Corsair''. The first performance was given at the Teatro Grande in Trieste on 25 Oct ...

'', published seven collections of Campana's songs.

Ricordi Ricordi may refer to: People * Giovanni Ricordi (1785–1853), Italian violinist and publishing company founder *Giulio Ricordi (1840–1912), Italian publisher and musician Music *Casa Ricordi, an Italian music publishing company established i ...

was to publish another nineteen between 1851 and 1873. The Ricordi collections were variously entitled ''Souvenirs'', ''Pensieri'', ''Echi'', ''Sospiri'', or ''Ricordi'' (Souvenirs, Thoughts, Echoes, Sighs, Memories), with each one devoted to a different place which had a personal significance in Campana's life, including Naples, Venice, Rome, Paris,

Bagni di Lucca Bagni di Lucca (formerly Bagno a Corsena) is a comune of Tuscany, Italy, in the Province of Lucca with a population of about 6,100. The comune has 27 named frazioni (wards). History Bagni di Lucca has been known for its thermal springs since the ...

, and

Lake Como Lake Como ( , ) also known as Lario, is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of , making it the third-largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. At over deep, it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe. ...

. The majority of Campana's songs were set to Italian texts, some written by the composer himself such as "Quando da te lontano!" (When I Am Far From You!). However, he also set texts by English writers which became popular both as concert pieces and as

parlor song Parlour music (or parlor music) is a type of popular music which, as the name suggests, is intended to be performed in the parlours of houses, usually by amateur singers and piano, pianists. Disseminated as sheet music, its heyday came in the 19th ...

s. His most well-known collaborators in this genre were

Henry Brougham Farnie Henry Brougham Farnie (8 April 1836 – 21 September 1889), often called H. B. Farnie, was a British librettist and adapter of French operettas and an author. Some of his English-language versions of operettas became record-setting hits on th ...

(e.g. "Speak to Me" and "The Scout: A Trooper's Ditty") and

Henry Hersee Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainment ...

(e.g. "A Free Lance Am I: Or the Soldier of Fortune" and "The Little Gipsy"). Another popular concert piece in England was Campana's "Voga, voga, O marinaro" (Row, Row, O Sailor), a

barcarole A barcarolle ( ; from French, also barcarole; originally, Italian barcarola or barcaruola, from 'boat') is a traditional folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers, or a piece of music composed in that style. In classical music, two of the most fam ...

for three female voices. It was later mentioned in

Eleanor Farjeon Eleanor Farjeon (13 February 1881 – 5 June 1965) was an English author of children's literature, children's stories and plays, poetry, biography, history and satire. Several of her works had illustrations by Edward Ardizzone. Some of her cor ...

's 1941 novel, ''Miss Gransby's Secret'', a satire on the sensibilities of the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed the ...

.Farjeon (1941) pp. 61 and 154. For a review of the novel, se
"Victorian Satire"
'' The Argus'', 1 March 1941, p. 6. ;Recorded songs *"L'ultima speme" (The Last Hope) –

(soprano),

Richard Bonynge Richard Alan Bonynge ( ) (born 29 September 1930) is an Australian conductor and pianist. He is the widower of Australian dramatic coloratura soprano Dame Joan Sutherland. Bonynge conducted virtually all of Sutherland's operatic performances ...

(piano) on ''Serate Musicali'' (

) *"Una sera d'amore" (An Evening of Love) –

Jennifer Larmore Jennifer Larmore (born June 21, 1958) is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer, particularly noted for her performances in coloratura and bel canto roles which she has performed in the world's major opera houses.Slonimsky, Nicolas and Kuhn, Lau ...

(mezzo-soprano), Patrizia Biccire (soprano), Antoine Palloc (piano), on ''Il Salotto'' Vol 8: ''Notturno'' (

) *"Ora divina" (Divine Hour) –

Paul Austin Kelly Paul Austin Kelly (born 1960) is an American singer. A former rock musician who has sung opera, the tenor also writes, records and performs music for children. Musical beginnings Kelly attended Rondout Valley High School in Accord, New York, and ...

(tenor),

Diana Montague Diana Montague (born 8 April 1953) is an English mezzo-soprano, known for her performances in opera and as a concert singer. She is married to the English tenor David Rendall. The pair have a son, Huw Montague Rendall, who is an operatic bariton ...

(mezzo-soprano), David Harper (piano) on ''Il Salotto'' Vol 9: ''Ora Divina'' (Opera Rara) *"Près de la mer" (By the Sea) – Diana Montague (mezzo-soprano), David Harper (piano) on ''Il Salotto'' Vol 11: ''Serenata'' (Opera Rara)

Notes and references

Sources

*Ambìveri, Corrado
"Fabio Campana"
''Operisti minori dell'800 italiano'', Gremese Editore, 1998, pp. 32–33. (in Italian) *Bianconi, Lorenzo and Pestelli, Giorgio
''Opera Production and its Resources''
(translated by Lydia G. Cochrane), University of Chicago Press, 1998. * *De Retz
"Saison de Londres"
''Le Ménestrel'', 26 June 1870 pp. 236–237 (in French) *Durbè, Vera (ed.)
''La Giovinezza di Fattori'': Catalogo della mostra al Cisternino del Poccianti: Livorno, ottobre–dicembre 1980
De Luca, 1980 (in Italian) *''

Dwight's Journal of Music ''Dwight's Journal of Music'' (1852–1881, ''DJM'') was an American music journal, one of the most respected and influential such periodicals in the country in the mid-19th century. John Sullivan Dwight created the Journal, and published it in ...

''
"The Italian Operas in London—Covent Garden"
Vol 30, No. 10, 30 July 1870, pp. 282–283 * Farjeon, Eleanor
''Miss Gransby's Secret''
Simon and Schuster, 1941 * Forbes, Elizabeth, "Campana, Fabio",

Grove Music Online ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language '' Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and t ...

, Accessed vi
subscription
25 September 2010 *Lunn, Henry C
"The London Musical Season"
''The Musical Times'', Vol. 15, No. 343, 1 September 1871, pp. 199–202 . *Sanvitale, Francesco
''La romanza italiana da salotto''
EDT srl, 2002. (in Italian) *''The Musical World'', "Her Majesty's Theatre", 28 April 1860, p. 273

External links

*, songs "La Malinconia" and "Amo"

at the Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek
Catalogue of Fabio Campana's scores
held in the libraries of

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...

(in Italian) {{DEFAULTSORT:Campana, Fabio 1819 births 1882 deaths Grand Duchy of Tuscany people Italian Romantic composers Italian male conductors (music) Italian opera composers Italian male opera composers 19th-century Italian classical composers 19th-century Italian conductors (music)