Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

Pergolesi is one of the most influential composers of comic opera. One of his serious operas, The Proud Prisoner, opened in 1733 and became a popular work in its own right. When the work was performed in Paris in 1752, it prompted the Quarrel of the Comic Actors between supporters of the serious French opera and the supporter of the new Italian comic opera. The quarrel divided Paris’ musical community for over two years.

During his lifetime, he also wrote a variety of other operatic works, such as his first opera seria La Salustia in 1732, Lo Frate ‘nnamorato in 1732, and L’Olimpiade in 1735 and Il Flaminio in 1735. He also wrote sacred music, his best-known sacred work, Stabat Mater, was commissioned by the Confraternita dei Cavalieri di San Luigi di Palazzo.

Pergolesi wrote a variety of secular instrumental works, including a violin sonata and a violin concerto. Peculiarly, a number of instrumental and sacred works that were once attributed to Pergolesi have been misattributed; for example, The Concerti Armonici is actually composed by Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer. Many articles related to Pergolesi were later revealed as hoaxes. The composer passed away in 1736 and is buried at the Franciscan monastery.