A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Galuppi, Baldassare

by Franz Gehring

GALUPPI, Baldassare, born Oct. 18 [App. p.645 "Oct. 6"], 1706, on the island of Burano near Venice—whence he was known as Il Buranello—was first taught by his father, a barber, who played the violin at the theatre. At 16 he came to Venice, and earned his bread by organ playing. Through the intervention of Marcello he was admitted into the Conservatorio degli Incurabili, where he studied under Lotti. His first dramatic attempt, 'Gli amici rivali,' was hissed off the stage, but he was more fortunate with 'Dorinda' (1729) for which Marcello wrote the libretto. From this time his operas were performed throughout Italy. On April 8, 1762, he was appointed maestro di capella of St. Mark's and director of the Incurabili; but he shortly gave up these posts in order to go to St. Petersburg, where he had been invited by the Empress Catherine II. Having first improved the orchestra, no easy task, he produced his 'Didone abbandonata' with extraordinary success. He returned in 1768 to Venice, where Dr. Burney found him in 1770 prosperous and respected, and maestro of the Incurabili. Burney speaks of his 'fire and imagination,' and of the 'novelty, spirit, and delicacy' of his music. (Present State, 155, 174, 184.) His fecundity must have been remarkable; Fétis gives a list of 54 operas, 5 of which were written in one year. Though written with taste, and never overloaded, none of them have survived the Revolution of Rossini, fatal to so many of Galuppi's contemporaries. The autograph of the opera 'Il vilano Geloso,' which he composed conjointly with Gassmann, Marcello, Scarlatti, Franchi, Sacchini, Monfe, and Venti, is now in Vienna; also a grand 'Credo,' 'Gloria,' and other church works. His church works are still occasionally performed in Venice. He also wrote for the Harpsichord, and a sonata of his of great beauty is printed in the 'Alte Clavier musik' of Pauer. He died Jan. 3, 1785 [App. 645 "1784"].

[ F. G. ]