Guglielmi, Pietro Alessandro

Guglielmi, Pietro Alessandro, noted Italian composer, father of Pietro Carlo Guglielmi; b. Massa di Carrara, Dec. 9, 1728; d. Rome, Nov. 18, 1804. He began his musical training with his father, Jacopo Guglielmi, then studied with Durante at the S. Maria di Loreto Cons, in Naples. His first opera, Lo solachianello ’mbroglione, was given in Naples in 1757. During the next decade, he wrote no fewer than 25 operas; these included such popular works as II ratio della sposa (Venice, 1765) and La Sposa fedele (Venice, 1767), which, along with L’impresa d’opera (Venice, 1769), were performed throughout Europe with notable success. In 1767 he went to London, where he brought out several operas; his wife, known as Maria Leli or Lelia Acchiapati (or Acchiappati), sang in his Ezio at the King’s Theatre (Jan. 13, 1770). He returned to Italy in 1772, and continued to compose stage works with abandon; among the most popular were La Villanella ingentilita (Naples, Nov. 8, 1779), La Quakera spiritosa (1782), Le vicende d’amore (Rome, 1784), La Virtuosa diMergellina (Naples, 1785), La Pastorella nobile (Naples, April 15, 1788), La bella pescatrice (Naples, Oct. 1789), and La Serva innamorata (Naples, 1790). His oratorios were also highly successful, and were often performed in stage versions; La movie di Oloferne (Rome, April 22, 1791) was a great favorite. In 1793 he was appointed maestro di cappella at S. Pietro in the Vatican; in 1797 he also assumed the post of maestro di cappella at S. Lorenzo Lucina. Guglielmi was one of the major Italian composers of his day. His productivity and facility were remarkable, making it possible for him to write for the stage or the church with equal aplomb.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera/ c o m i c (all 1st perf. in Naples unless otherwise given): Lo solachianello ’mbroglione (1757); II Filosofo burlato (1758); I capricci di una vedova (1759); La Moglie imperiosa (1759); I du soldati (1760); L’Ottavio (1760); // finto cieco (1761); La Donna di tutti i caratteri (1762); La Francese brillante (1763); Li Rivali placati (Venice, 1764); II ratto della sposa (Venice, 1765); La Sposa fedele (Venice, 1767); I Viaggiatori ridicoli tornati in Italia (London, May 24, 1768); L’impresa d’opera (Venice, Carnival 1769); // Disertore (London, May 19, 1770); L’Amante die spende (Venice, 1770); Le pazzie di Orlando (London, Feb. 23, 1771); II carnevale di Venezia, o sia La Virtuosa (London, Jan. 14, 1772); L’assemblea (London, March 24, 1772); Mirandolina (Venice, Carnival 1773); // matrimonio in contrasto (1776); Ifuoriusciti (1777); // raggiratore di pocafortuna (Aug. 1, 1779); La Villanella ingentilita (Nov. 8, 1779); La Dama avventuriera (1780); La Serva padrona (1780); Le nozze in commedia (Jan. 1781); Mietitori (Oct. 20, 1781); La semplice ad arte (May 12,1782); La Quakera spiritosa (1783); La Donna amante di tutti, e fedele a nessuno (1783); I finti amori (1784); La Virtuosa di Mergellina (1785); L’inganno amoroso (June 12,1786); Le astuzie villane (1786); Lo scoprimento inaspettato (Carnival 1787); La Pastorella nobile (April 15, 1788); Gl’inganni delusi (June 13, 1789); La bella pescatrice (Oct. 1789); La Serva innamorata (July 1790); L’azzardo (Oct. 9, 1790); Le false apparenze (1791); La Sposa contrastata (1791); II Poeta di campagna (1792); Amor tra le vendemmie (1792); La lanterna di Diogene (Venice, 1793); La Pupilla scaltra (Venice, Jan. 8, 1795); L’amore in villa (Rome, 1797). Opera/ s e r i o u s : Tito Manlio (Rome, Jan. 8, 1763); L’Olimpiade (Nov. 4, 1763); Siroe re di Persia (Florence, Sept. 5, 1764); Farnace (Rome, Feb. 4, 1765); Tamerlano (Venice, 1765); Adriano in Siria (Venice, Dec. 26, 1765); Sesostri (Venice, May 7, 1766); Demofoonte (Treviso, Oct. 8, 1766); Antigono (Milan, Jan. 1767); II Re pastore (Venice, 1767); Ifigenia in Aulide (London, Jan. 16, 1768); Alceste (Milan, Dec. 26, 1768); Ruggiero (Venice, May 3, 1769); Ezio (London, Jan. 13, 1770); Demetrio (London, June 3, 1772); Tamas Kouli-Kan nell’Indie (Florence, Sept. 16, 1774); Merope (Turin, Carnival 1775); Vologeso (Milan, Dec. 26, 1775); La Semiramide riconosciuta (Aug. 12, 1776); Artaserse (Rome, Jan. 29, 1777); Ricimero (May 30, 1777); Enea e Lavinia (Nov. 4, 1785); Laconte (May 30, 1787); Arsace (Venice, Dec. 26, 1788); Rinaldo (Venice, Jan. 28, 1789); Ademira (May 30, 1789); Alessandro nell’Indie (Nov. 4, 1789); // trionfo di Camilla (May 30, 1795); La morte di Cleopatra (June 22, 1796); Ippolito (Nov. 4, 1798); Siface e Sofonisba (May 30,1802). OTHER: Many other stage works, as well as various other vocal works, including Masses, a Requiem, Credos, Offertories, Magnificats, and Misereres along with many instrumental sinfonias, 2 harpsichord concertos, 6 quartets for Harpsichord, 2 Violins, and Cello, 6 sonatas for Harpsichord or Piano, 5 piano sonatas, etc.

Bibliography

G. Bustico, Pier A. G.: Appunti biografici (Massa, 1898); idem, Un musicista massese: Pier A. G. (Barga, 1926).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire