Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

1670 in Venice, Italy

Death

:

December 28, 1736 in Vienna, Austria

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Symphony

 

 

Vocal

 

Antonio Caldara was a prominent Italian composer of the Baroque era, known for his operas, oratorios, and sacred music. He was born in Venice in 1670, and his father was a violinist in the orchestra of St. Mark's Basilica. Caldara showed an early aptitude for music and began his career as a singer in the choir of St. Mark's. He later studied composition with Giovanni Legrenzi and became a member of the orchestra at the court of Mantua. In 1699, Caldara moved to Rome, where he worked as a composer for the Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni. He composed a number of operas and oratorios for the cardinal, including "La Conversione di Clodoveo" and "Il Martirio di Santa Caterina." Caldara's music was highly regarded in Rome, and he was appointed maestro di cappella at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in 1709. Caldara's career took him to various cities throughout Europe, including Barcelona, Vienna, and Prague. In 1716, he was appointed vice-Kapellmeister at the court of Charles VI in Vienna, where he remained for the rest of his life. Caldara composed a number of operas for the Viennese court, including "Lucio Papirio Dittatore" and "Achille in Sciro." He also wrote a significant amount of sacred music, including masses, motets, and oratorios. One of Caldara's most famous works is his Stabat Mater, a setting of the medieval hymn that describes the Virgin Mary's grief at the crucifixion of Jesus. Caldara's Stabat Mater is notable for its expressive melodies and rich harmonies, and it has been performed and recorded by many prominent musicians over the years. Caldara's music was highly regarded by his contemporaries, including Johann Sebastian Bach, who transcribed several of Caldara's works for his own use. Caldara's influence can also be heard in the music of later composers, such as Mozart and Beethoven. Despite his success as a composer, Caldara's personal life was marked by tragedy. He lost his wife and two children to illness, and he himself suffered from poor health in his later years. Caldara died in Vienna in 1736, at the age of 66. Today, Caldara is remembered as one of the most important composers of the Baroque era. His music is characterized by its expressive melodies, rich harmonies, and dramatic flair, and it continues to be performed and recorded by musicians around the world.

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