A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Pucitta, Vincenzo

by George Grove

PUCITTA, Vincenzo, was born at Rome [App. p781 "Civita Vecchia"], 1778, and brought up at the Pietà, at Naples, under Fenaroli and Sala. He wrote his first opera for Sinigaglia, near Ancona, and from that time till his death composed for the stage diligently. 'I due Prigionieri' (Rome 1801) was the first to make him widely known. He was, however, often away from Italy, first at Lisbon, where he brought out 'L'Andromacca,' and then in London, where he became for a time Director of the Music at the Opera.

His name first appears in 1809, when three of his operas were performed—'I Villeggiaturi bizarri,' 'La Caccia d'Enrico IV,' and 'Le quattro Nazioni.' In 1810 we find his 'La Vestale,' in 1811 'La tre Sultane,' in 1812 'La Ginevra di Scozia,' in 1813 'Boadicea,' and in 1814 'Aristodemo.' He then left the Opera and travelled with Madame Catalani; and when, in 1813, she took the direction of the Italian Opera at Paris, he became accompanyist, and three of his works were brought out there in 1815, 16 and 17. He then went to Rome, and remained in Italy till his death, at Milan, Dec. 20, 1861. Fétis gives a list of 23 of his operas, and says that his music shows great facility but no invention. Ten volumes of his songs, entitled 'Mille Melodie,' are published by Ricordi.

[ G. ]