A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Ricci, Luigi
RICCI, Luigi, born in Naples June 8, 1805, in 1814 entered the Royal Conservatorio, then under Zingarelli, of which he became in 1819 one of the sub-professors together with Bellini. His first work, 'L'Impresario in angustie,' was performed by the students of the Conservatorio in 1823, and enthusiastically applauded. In the following four years he wrote 'La Cena frastornata,' 'L'Abate Taccarella,' still very popular, 'Il Diavolo condannato a prender moglie,' and 'La Lucerna d'Epitteto,' all for the Teatro Nuovo. In 1828 his 'Ulisse,' at the San Carlo, was a failure. In 1829 'Il Colombo' in Parma and 'L'Orfanella di Ginevra' in Naples were both successful, the latter being still performed in many Italian theatres. The winter of 1829–30 was disastrous for Ricci, his four new operas ('Il Sonnambulo,' 'L'Eroina del Messico,' 'Annibale in Torino,' and 'La Neve') being all unsuccessful. In the autumn of 1831 he produced at La Scala of Milan 'Chiara di Rosemberg,' and this opera, performed by Grisi, Sacchi, Winter, Badioli, etc., was greatly applauded, and soon became successful in all the theatres of Italy. 'Il nuovo Figaro' failed in Parma in 1832. In it sang Rozer, who afterwards married Balfe. The same fate attended 'I due Sergenti' at La Scala in 1833, where the following year he gave 'Un' Avventura di Scaramuccia,' which was a very great success, and was translated into French by Flotow. The same year 'Gli esposti,' better known as 'Eran due ed or son tre,' was applauded in Turin, whilst 'Chi dura vince,' like Rossini's immortal 'Barbiere,' was hissed at Rome. It was afterwards received enthusiastically at Milan and in many other opera-houses of Europe. It was dedicated to Louise Vernet, the wife of the great painter Paul Delaroche, the friend of Ricci. In 1835 'Chiara di Montalbano' failed at the Scala, while 'La serva e l'ussero' was applauded in Pavia. Ricci had thus composed twenty operas when only thirty years old; and although many of his works had met with a genuine and well-deserved success, he was still very poor and had to accept the post of Kapellmeister of the Trieste Cathedral and conductor of the Opera. In 1838 his 'Nozze di Figaro' was a fiasco in Milan, where Rossini told him that its fall was due to the music being too serious.
For the next six years Ricci composed nothing. In 1844 he married Lidia Stoltz, by whom he had two children, Adelaide, who in 1867 sang at the Théâtre des Italiens in Paris, but died soon after, and Luigi, who resides in London. 'La Solitaria delle Asturie' was given in Odessa in 1844; 'II Birraio di Preston' in Florence in 1847; and in 1852 'La Festa di Piedigrotta' was very successful in Naples. His last opera 'Il Diavolo a quattro' was performed in Trieste in 1859.
Luigi Ricci composed in collaboration with his brother Federico 'Il Colonnello,' given in Rome, and 'M. de Chalumeaux,' in Venice, in 1835; in 1836 'Il Disertore per amore' for the San Carlo in Naples, and 'L'Amante di richiamo' given in Turin in 1846. Of these four operas, 'Il Colonnello' alone had a well-deserved reception. But Ricci's masterpiece, the opera which has placed him in a very high rank among Italian composers, is 'Crispino e la Comare,' written in 1850 for Venice, and to which his brother Federico partly contributed. This opera, one of the best comic operas of Italy, is always and everywhere applauded, being a happy mixture of fairy tales, laughter, grace, and comicality.
Shortly after the production of 'Il Diavolo a quattro' in 1859, however, symptoms of insanity showed themselves, and the malady soon became violent. He was taken to an asylum at Prague, his wife's birthplace, and died there Dec. 31, 1859. He was much mourned at Trieste; a funeral ceremony was followed by a performance of selections from his principal works, his bust was placed in the lobby of the Opera-house, and a pension was granted to his widow. He published two volumes of vocal pieces entitled 'Mes Loisirs' and 'Les inspirations du Thé' (Ricordi), and he left in MS. a large number of compositions for the cathedral service. His brother,
Federico, was born in Naples, Oct. 22, 1809, entered the Royal Conservatorio of that town, where his brother was then studying, and had the good-fortune to receive his musical education from Bellini and Zingarelli. In 1829 he went to live with his brother until the marriage of the latter in 1844. In 1837 he gave 'La Prigione d'Edimburgo' in Trieste. The barcarola of this opera, 'Sulla poppa del mio brick,' is one of the most popular melodies of Italy. In 1839 his 'Duello sotto Richelieu' was only moderately successful at La Scala, but in 1841 'Michelangelo e Rolla' was applauded in Florence. In it sang Signora Strepponi, who afterwards married Verdi. 'Corrado d'Altamura,' a lyric drama of some merit, was given at La Scala before delighted audiences. At the personal request of Charles Albert he composed in 1842 a cantata for the marriage of Victor Emmanuel, and another for a court festival. In 1843 his 'Vallombra' failed at La Scala. 'Isabella de' Medici' (1844) in Trieste, Estella' (1846) in Milan, 'Griselda' (1847) and 'I due ritratti' (1850) in Venice, were all failures. 'Il Marito e l'Amante' was greatly applauded in Vienna in 1852, but his last opera, 'Il paniere d'amore,' given there the following year, did not succeed. He was then named Musical Director of the Imperial Theatres of St. Petersburg, which post he occupied for many years. Of the operas written in collaboration with his brother we have already spoken.
He however did not give up composing, but brought out at the Fantaisies-Parisiennes, Paris, 'Une Folie à Rome' Jan. 30, 1869, with great success. Encouraged by this he produced an opéra-comique in 3 acts, 'Le Docteur rose' (Bouffes Parisiens, Feb. 10, 1872) and 'Une Fête à Venise,' a reproduction of his earlier work, 'Il Marito e l'Amante' (Athenée, Feb. 15, 1872), but both were entire failures. Shortly after this Federico left Paris and retired to Conegliano in Italy, where he died Dec. 10, 1877. He was concerned partially or entirely in 19 operas. Of his cantatas we have spoken. He also left 2 masses, 6 albums or collections of vocal pieces (Ricordi), and many detached songs.[ L. R. ]