Dates

• Existence: 1660 - 1725

Biography

Alessandro Scarlatti was born in Palermo on 2 May 1660. His first opera was a resounding success and he attracted the attention of Queen Christina of Sweden who made him her 'maestro di cappella'. In 1684 he was appointed 'maestro di cappella'' at the royal court in Naples which he dominated in the production of operas. By 1700 the War of the Spanish Succession was threatening the stability of the court of Naples so Scarlatti moved to Florence in 1702. Failing to find a post at the court of Prince Ferdinando de' Medici, he took his family to Rome where he found a post at the church of San Maria Maggiore. A papal ban of opera forced him to concentrate on writing oratorio and cantatas. In 1707 he was in Venice but his operas failed there and he returned to Rome and to San Maria Maggiore. Life as a church musician gave him little satisfaction and so in 1708 he accepted an invitation from the new Austrian viceroy to return to his post at Naples where he remained there for the rest of his life.

Scarlatti's various works included Gli equivoci nel sembiante 1679, Il Pirro e Demetrio 1694, La caduta dei Decemviri 1697, Mitridate Eupatore, Il trionfo della liberta, and La Griselda 1721.

Alessandro Scarlatti died in Naples on 22 October 1725.

Found in 25 Collections and/or Records: