Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Italy

Birth

:

June 26, 1631 in Rome, Italy

Death

:

August 8, 1690 in Prague, Czech Republic

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Symphony

 

Vincenzo Albrici was an Italian composer of the Baroque era, born in 1631 in the town of Piacenza. He was the son of a musician and began his musical education at a young age, studying with his father and later with the renowned composer Giovanni Battista Bassani. Albrici's early career was spent primarily in his hometown of Piacenza, where he served as the maestro di cappella at the Cathedral of Santa Maria. During this time, he composed a number of sacred works, including masses, motets, and psalms, which were performed regularly in the cathedral. In 1666, Albrici moved to the city of Modena, where he was appointed as the maestro di cappella at the Cathedral of San Geminiano. It was during his time in Modena that Albrici began to gain a reputation as a composer of opera, a genre that was becoming increasingly popular in Italy at the time. Albrici's first opera, La finta pazza, was premiered in Modena in 1671. The opera was well-received and led to a number of commissions from other cities in Italy. Over the course of his career, Albrici composed a total of 14 operas, many of which were performed in major cities such as Venice, Rome, and Naples. In addition to his work in opera, Albrici continued to compose sacred music throughout his career. His most famous sacred work is his Dixit Dominus, a setting of Psalm 110 that is considered one of the masterpieces of Baroque choral music. Albrici's music is characterized by its melodic inventiveness and its use of rich harmonies and counterpoint. His operas are notable for their lively and engaging melodies, while his sacred music is marked by its grandeur and solemnity. Despite his success as a composer, Albrici's personal life was marked by tragedy. He lost his wife and two of his children to the plague in 1679, and his own health began to decline in the years that followed. He died in Modena in 1692 at the age of 61. Today, Albrici is remembered as one of the most important composers of the Baroque era, particularly in the genres of opera and sacred music. His works continue to be performed and recorded by musicians around the world, ensuring that his legacy will endure for generations to come.

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