A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Gomez, A. Carlos

by George Grove

GOMEZ, A. Carlos, a Portuguese by parentage and a Brazilian by birth, was born at Compinos July 11, 1839, was sent to Europe by the Emperor, and received his musical education at the Conservatorio of Milan. His début as a composer was made at the Teatro Fossati in Jan. 67 in a little piece called 'Se sa minga,' which had a remarkable success. His next was 'Il Guarany,' produced at La Scala March 19, 1870, and shortly after brought out at Genoa, Florence, and Rome. In this country it was first performed on July 13, 1872, at Covent Garden. This was followed by 'Fosca' at the Scala [App. p.651 "Feb. 16, 1873"], which was unsuccessful; and that by 'Salvator Rosa' (Genoa, Feb. 21, 74), again unsuccessful. Besides these operas Señor Gomez composed an ode entitled 'Il Saluto del Brasile,' which was performed in the Exhibition Building at Philadelphia in 1876 [App. p.651 "July 19"]. Gomez's music is full of spirit and picturesque effect, and is therefore popular, but it is wanting in originality, and too obviously indebted to Verdi and Meyerbeer. The best parts of Il Guarany—a Brazilian story—are said to have been those which are concerned with native subjects.

[ G. ]