A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Fioravanti, Valentino
FIORAVANTI, Valentino, composer, born in Rome 1770, studied under Sala at the 'Pietá de' Turchini' at Naples. His first opera 'Coi matti il savio si perde' produced at the Pergola in Florence 1791, was followed by at least 50 others, all comic. He was invited to Paris in consequence of the success of 'Le Cantatrici Villane' (1806 [App. p.636 "1803"]) and there wrote 'I virtuosi ambulanti' (1807). These two were on the whole his best operas, though all possessed a genuine vein of comedy, a freshness, and an ease in the part-writing, which concealed their triviality and want of originality, and made them very popular in their day. In June 1816 he succeeded Jannaconi as maestro di capella to St. Peter's at Rome, and while in that post wrote a quantity of church music very inferior to his operas. [App. p.636 "'Adelaida' was produced at Naples in 1817."] His character was gentle and retiring; and the last few years of his life were spent very quietly. He died at Capua, on his way to Naples, June 16, 1837. Like Paisiello and other considerable Italian composers of that date, Fioravanti was extinguished by Rossini.
His son Vincenzo, born 1810 [App. p.636 "born April 5, 1799, died March 28, 1877"], also composed operas with ephemeral success.[ M. C. C. ]