A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Vinci, Leonardo

by George Grove

VINCI, Leonardo, born 1690 at Strongoli in Calabria, and educated with Pergolesi and Porpora, in the Conservatorio de' Poveri di Gesù Cristo at Naples, under Gaetano Greco. Of his life but little is known. He appears to have begun his career in 1719 with two comic pieces in Neapolitan dialect, which were followed by 26 operas of various characters and dimensions. Of these, 'Ifigenia en Tauride' (Venice, 1725), 'Astianatte' (Naples, 1725), 'Didone abbandonata' (Rome, 1726), and 'Alessandro nell' Indie' (Rome, 1729), had the greatest success. 'Didone' established his fame. His last was 'Artaserse' (Naples, 1732). In 1728 he was received into the congregation of the Rosario at Formiello, for whom he composed two Oratorios, a Kyrie, two Masses à 5, and some Motets. He was poisoned by the relative of a Roman lady with whom he had a liaison, and died in 1732. His operas, says Burney (iv. 400–537, etc.), form an era in dramatic music by the direct simplicity and emotion which he threw into the natural clear and dramatic strains of his airs, and by the expressive character of the accompaniments, especially those of the obbligato recitatives. He left a great number of cantatas for 1 and 2 voices, with bass or strings. These are quoted by Florimo ('Cenno Storico' p. 230–234), from whom the above facts are chiefly derived. A collection of his airs was published by Walsh of London, and highly prized. 'Vo solcando,' from 'Artaserse,' was sung everywhere by musicians and amateurs alike.

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