Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1653

Death

:

1723

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Carlo Francesco Pollarolo was an Italian composer of the Baroque era, born in Piacenza in 1653. He was the son of a musician, Giovanni Battista Pollarolo, who was a violinist and composer. Carlo Francesco Pollarolo grew up in a musical family and received his early musical education from his father. Pollarolo began his career as a composer in Venice, where he worked as a violinist and composer for the Teatro San Cassiano. He composed his first opera, "La forza della virtù," in 1678, which was well received by audiences and critics alike. This success led to further commissions for operas, and Pollarolo became one of the most sought-after composers of his time. In 1684, Pollarolo moved to Vienna, where he worked as a composer for the Imperial Court. He composed several operas for the court, including "La finta pazza," which was performed in 1687. Pollarolo's music was highly regarded by the court, and he was appointed as the court composer in 1690. Pollarolo's music was characterized by its melodic beauty and expressive harmonies. His operas were known for their dramatic intensity and emotional depth. He was also known for his skill in writing arias, which were often performed as standalone pieces outside of the context of the opera. One of Pollarolo's most famous works is his opera "Ifigenia in Aulide," which was first performed in Venice in 1697. The opera tells the story of Agamemnon's sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia to the gods in order to gain their favor in the Trojan War. The opera was a great success and was performed throughout Europe. Pollarolo's other notable works include "La forza della virtù," "La finta pazza," "La costanza trionfante," and "La Rosaura." His music was highly regarded by his contemporaries, including Johann Sebastian Bach, who was influenced by Pollarolo's style. Pollarolo continued to compose music until his death in Vienna in 1723. He was a prolific composer, with over 60 operas to his name. His music was highly regarded during his lifetime and continues to be appreciated by music lovers today.

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