Francesco Corselli, sometimes given in the French spelling François Courcelle, (Piacenza, 19 April 1705 - 3 April 1778 in Madrid) was an Italian composer of the pre-classical period born to French parents in Italy.
Biography
Francesco Corselli (Courcelle) was born on 19 April 1705 in
Piacenza
Piacenza (; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, and the capital of the province of Piacenza, eponymous province. As of 2022, Piacenza is the ninth largest city in the region by population, with more ...
, Italy from French parents.
He was the director of music for the funerals of
Francesco Farnese 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 childl ...
in 1731, and Kapellmeister at the Church of
Santa Maria della Steccata
The Shrine of Santa Maria della Steccata is a Christian cross variants, Greek-cross design Renaissance church in central Parma, Italy. The name derives from the fence () in the church. A Nursing Madonna is enshrined within, crowned on 27 May 1601 ...
, 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, along with two other Italian composers
Francesco Corradini 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
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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'', 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
Núria Rial (born 1975 in Manresa, Catalonia) is a Spanish soprano. In recent years, Rial has specialized in the music of the renaissance and baroque eras, such as the works of Handel and Monteverdi. Her repertoire also includes Johann Sebastian ...
, El Concierto Español, Emilio Moreno. 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 - Pag ...
References
*
Musica barocca
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corselli, Francesco
1705 births
1778 deaths
18th-century Italian composers
18th-century Italian male musicians
Italian male composers
Musicians from Piacenza
Italian emigrants to Spain