Baldassare Galuppi

Baldassare Galuppi (18 October 1706 – 3 January 1785) was an Italian composer from Venice, noted for his operas, and particularly opera buffa. He was born on the island of Burano in the Venetian Lagoon, and as a result, he became known as Il Buranello. His first attempt at opera, La fede nell'incostanza ossia gli amici rivali (1722), was a spectacular failure, having been hissed off the stage. He subsequently studied music with Antonio Lotti, and... more

Baldassare Galuppi (18 October 1706 – 3 January 1785) was an Italian composer from Venice, noted for his operas, and particularly opera buffa. He was born on the island of Burano in the Venetian Lagoon, and as a result, he became known as Il Buranello. His first attempt at opera, La fede nell'incostanza ossia gli amici rivali (1722), was a spectacular failure, having been hissed off the stage. He subsequently studied music with Antonio Lotti, and after a brief period in Florence working as a harpsichordist, returned to Venice for another attempt at opera. This time, his opera seria Dorinda (1729) was a success and launched his theatrical career. In 1740, he was appointed music director of the Ospedale dei Mendicanti, and he worked at St. Mark's in Venice from 1748, being appointed maestro di cappella (considered Venice's top musical post) there in 1762. He lived and worked for most of his life in Venice, though from 1741 to 1743 he worked in London, and from 1765 to 1768 he worked for... less