Terradellas, Domingo (Miguel Bernabe)

Terradellas, Domingo (Miguel Bernabe), distinguished Spanish composer who became best known via his Italianized name of Domenico Terradeg-lias; b. Barcelona (baptized), Feb. 13, 1713; d. Rome, May 20, 1751. He began his musical training in Barcelona, then studied at the Cons, dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo in Naples (1732-38); while still a student, he produced his first significant score, the oratorio Giuseppe riconosciuto (1736). He gained an outstanding success with his opera Merope (Rome, Jan. 3, 1743). From 1743 to 1745 he was active at the Spanish church of Santiago y S. Ildefonso in Rome, and devoted much time to writing sacred music. During the 1746-47 season, he composed 2 operas for the King’s Theatre in London; then returned to the Continent; was again in Italy by 1750. His last opera, Sesostri re d’Egitto, scored a major success at its premiere in Rome (Carnival 1751).

Works

dramatic: Opera: Astarto (Rome, Carnival 1739); Gli intrighi delle cantarme (Naples, 1740); Issipile (Florence, 1741 or 1742); Merope (Rome, Jan. 3, 1743); Artaserse (Venice, Carnival 1744); Semiramide riconosciuta (Florence, Carnival 1746); Mitridate (London, Dec. 2, 1746); Bellerofonte (London, March 24, 1747); Bidone abbandonata (Turin, Carnival 1750); Imeneo in Atene (Venice, May 6, 1750); Sesostri re d’Egitto (Rome, Carnival 1751). SACRED VOCAL: 2 oratorios (Naples, 1736 and 1739); Missa Solemnia; masses; Te Deum, etc.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire