Conti, Francesco Bartolomeo
Conti, Francesco Bartolomeo
Conti, Francesco Bartolomeo , eminent Italian composer, theorbist, and mandolinist; b. Florence, Jan. 20, 1681; d. Vienna, July 20, 1732. He settled in Vienna, and was assoc. theorbist (1701–06; 1707–08) and principal theorbist (1708–26) at the court. In 1713 he also became court composer. After the death of his first wife in 1711, he married the court prima donna Maria Landini, who sang the principal roles in his operas between 1714 and 1721. Following her death in 1722, he married the court prima donna Maria Anna Lorenzani in 1725, who also sang the principal roles in his operas. Conti was an outstanding composer of both secular and sacred dramatic works. His tragicommedia, Don Chisciotte in Sierra Moreno. (Vienna, Carnival 1719), was one of his most remarkable works. His son, Ignazio Maria Conti (b. probably in Florence, 1699; d. Vienna, March 28, 1759), was a theorbist and composer who was active at the court in Vienna from 1719. Among his works were operas, oratorios, masses, and cantatas.
Works
DRAMATIC (all 1st perf. in Vienna unless Otherwise Given)Clotilde (1706); II trionfo deU’amicizia e dell’amore (Carnival 1711; rev. as II trionfo deU’amore e delta costanza, Hamburg, Jan. 1718); Circe fatta saggia (Aug. 28, 1713); Alba Cornelia (Carnival 1714; rev. version, Breslau, Carnival 1726); I Sattiri in Arcadia (Aug. 28, 1714); II Ciro (Carnival 1715; in collaboration with Bagatella, Mamalucca, and Pattatocco); Teseo in Creta (Aug. 28, 1715; in collaboration with Galantina and Pampalugo); Ilfinto Policare (Jan. 24, 1716); Sesostri, re di Egitto (Jan. 24, 1717; in collaboration with Grilletta and Pimpinone); Astarto (Carnival, 1718; in collaboration with Farfalletta, Lirone, and Terremoto); Amove in Tessaglia (Aug. 28, 1718); Don Chisciotte in Sierra Morena (Carnival 1719; rev. version, Hamburg, 1720); Claris und Thyrsis (Hamburg, April 26, 1719); Galatea vendicata (Nov. 19, 1719); Alessandro in Sidone (Carnival 1721; rev. version, Braunschsweig, Aug. 1726); La via del saggio (Oct. 1, 1721); Archelao, re di Cappadocia (Carnival 1722); Pallade trionfante (Nov. 19, 1722); Creso (Carnival 1723); II trionfo delta fama (Prague, Nov. 4, 1723); Penelope (Carnival 1724); Meleagro (Nov. 19, 1724); Griselda (Carnival 1725; in collaboration with Erighetta and Don Chilone); Isicratea (Nov. 19, 1726); Issipile (Carnival 1732; rev. version, Hamburg, Feb. 20, 1737). OTHER: 10 oratorios; many cantatas and other sacred works; instrumental pieces.
Bibliography
J. Schneider, F. C. als dramatischer Componist (diss., Univ. of Vienna, 1902); H. Williams, F.B. C.: His Life and Operas (diss., Columbia Univ., 1964); H. Williams, F.B. C.: Hz’s Life and Music (Brookfoeld, Vt., 1999).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire