Anfossi, Pasquale
Anfossi, Pasquale
Anfossi, Pasquale, Italian composer; b. Taggia, near Naples, April 5, 1727; d. Rome, Feb.(?) 1797. He received training in violin at the Loreto Cons, in Naples, and later studied composition with Sacchini and Piccinni. His first opera, La serva spiritosa, was first given at the Teatro Capranica in Rome in Carnival 1763. More than a dozen operas followed before Anfossi scored his first great success with L’incognita perseguitata at the Teatro delle Dame in Rome in Carnival 1773. Many more operas followed, including II trionfo della costanza, which was premiered at the King’s Theatre in London on Dec. 19, 1782. At different times between 1782 and 1786, he acted as music director at the King’s Theatre. He then was active in his homeland, where he won notable success with his opera Le pazzie de’ gelosi, which was first heard at the Teatro Valle in Rome in Carnival 1787. After having composed over 60 operas, Anfossi gave up writing for the stage in 1790. In 1792 he became maestro di cappella at St. John Lateran in Rome, a position he retained until his death. In addition to operas, he also composed about 20 oratorios, masses, Psalms, sinfonie, and chamber music.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire