Alessandro Stradella (April 3, 1639 - February 25, 1682) was an Italian com… Read Full Bio ↴Alessandro Stradella (April 3, 1639 - February 25, 1682) was an Italian composer of the middle Baroque. He was born in Rome, and was murdered in Genoa.
Not much is known about his early life, but he was from an aristocratic family, educated at Bologna, and was already making a name for himself as a composer at the age of 20, being commissioned by Queen Christina of Sweden. In 1667 he moved to Rome where he composed copiously, mostly sacred music, and began to live a dissolute life. With a friend he attempted to embezzle money from the Roman Catholic Church, but was found out: he fled the city, only returning much later when he thought it was safe. Unfortunately his numerous incautious affairs with women began to make him enemies among the powerful men of the city, and he had to leave Rome for good.
In 1677 he went to Venice, where he was hired by a powerful nobleman as the music tutor to his mistress. As might be expected, Stradella was shortly involved with her, and had to flee when their liaison was found out; but this time the nobleman hired a gang of thugs to follow him and kill him, which they narrowly failed to do. Stradella went next to Genoa, where he wrote operas and cantatas; unfortunately he was again involved in an affair with a poorly-chosen woman, and this time a hired killer caught up with him at the Piazza Banchi and stabbed him to death.
Stradella was an extremely influential composer at the time, though his fame was eclipsed in the next century by Corelli, Vivaldi and others. Probably his greatest significance is in originating the concerto grosso: while Corelli in his Op. 6 was the first to publish works under this title, Stradella clearly uses the format earlier in one of his Sonate di viole. Since the two knew each other, a direct influence is likely.
Stradella wrote at least six operas, as well as numerous cantatas and oratorios. He also wrote 27 separate instrumental pieces, most for strings and basso continuo, and typically in the sonata da chiesa format.
His colorful life and bloody death clearly made a good story for an opera of its own. Three separate composers made operas out of his life, the most famous being Friedrich von Flotow with his Alessandro Stradella (Hamburg, 1844).
Not much is known about his early life, but he was from an aristocratic family, educated at Bologna, and was already making a name for himself as a composer at the age of 20, being commissioned by Queen Christina of Sweden. In 1667 he moved to Rome where he composed copiously, mostly sacred music, and began to live a dissolute life. With a friend he attempted to embezzle money from the Roman Catholic Church, but was found out: he fled the city, only returning much later when he thought it was safe. Unfortunately his numerous incautious affairs with women began to make him enemies among the powerful men of the city, and he had to leave Rome for good.
In 1677 he went to Venice, where he was hired by a powerful nobleman as the music tutor to his mistress. As might be expected, Stradella was shortly involved with her, and had to flee when their liaison was found out; but this time the nobleman hired a gang of thugs to follow him and kill him, which they narrowly failed to do. Stradella went next to Genoa, where he wrote operas and cantatas; unfortunately he was again involved in an affair with a poorly-chosen woman, and this time a hired killer caught up with him at the Piazza Banchi and stabbed him to death.
Stradella was an extremely influential composer at the time, though his fame was eclipsed in the next century by Corelli, Vivaldi and others. Probably his greatest significance is in originating the concerto grosso: while Corelli in his Op. 6 was the first to publish works under this title, Stradella clearly uses the format earlier in one of his Sonate di viole. Since the two knew each other, a direct influence is likely.
Stradella wrote at least six operas, as well as numerous cantatas and oratorios. He also wrote 27 separate instrumental pieces, most for strings and basso continuo, and typically in the sonata da chiesa format.
His colorful life and bloody death clearly made a good story for an opera of its own. Three separate composers made operas out of his life, the most famous being Friedrich von Flotow with his Alessandro Stradella (Hamburg, 1844).
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01San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Duet: Chi 'l freno non regge (Due consiglieri)1:36Andrea De Carlo
02San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Recitative: Nel regio trono di Bisanzio assisa (Testo, Eudosia)3:42Arianna Vendittelli
03San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Aria: Rei timori, perche a stuolo (Eudosia)1:40Arianna Vendittelli
04San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Recitative: Ma quai folli deliri (Eudosia)0:56Arianna Vendittelli
05San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Trio: Se teme chi regna (Cortigiani di Eudosia)3:23Andrea De Carlo
06San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Recitative: Si mal nati consigli (Inviato, Eudosia)2:12Arianna Vendittelli
07San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Aria: Se le mal corrette voglie (Inviato)1:14Andrea De Carlo
08San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Recitative: Par che gelida tema (Eudosia)0:43Arianna Vendittelli
09San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Aria: Benche audace sia 'l desire (Eudosia)2:27Arianna Vendittelli
10San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Recitative: Crisostomo s'appelli (Eudosia)0:29Arianna Vendittelli
11San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Duet: Talor - Giammai si cade (Inviato, Teofilo)1:46Andrea De Carlo
12San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Recitative: Eudosia, ah, non son io? (Eudosia, Crisostomo)1:24Arianna Vendittelli
13San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Aria: Fugge il di, fugge la vita (Crisostomo)2:10Andrea De Carlo
14San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Recitative: Forse non si rammenta (Crisostomo)0:46Andrea De Carlo
15San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Aria: Ogni regno diviso sen va (Inviato)2:34Andrea De Carlo
16San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Chorus: Non vil capanna (Seguito dell'Inviato)0:46Arianna Vendittelli
17San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Recitative: Regio cor d'ardimento (Teofilo, Crisostomo)1:36Andrea De Carlo
18San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Duet: La morte n'addita (Crisostomo, Inviato)2:34Andrea De Carlo
19San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Recitative: Invano, invan si tenta (Eudosia, Teofilo)0:53Arianna Vendittelli
20San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 1: Part I: Duet: Alme ree, turba mendace (Inviato, Crisostomo)1:20Andrea De Carlo
21San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Duet: Della vita il fragil legno (Inviato, Teofilo)1:44Andrea De Carlo
22San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Recitative: Tu forse il patrio lito (Inviato, Teofilo)1:25Andrea De Carlo
23San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Aria: Fra procelle la nave peri (Teofilo)1:18Andrea De Carlo
24San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Recitative: Su, tacete, tacete! (Eudosia, Inviato, Teofilo)0:56Arianna Vendittelli
25San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Aria: Chi col picciolo serpente (Eudosia)2:04Arianna Vendittelli
26San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Recitative: Non causi anco pensiero! (Eudosia, Crisostomo)1:10Arianna Vendittelli
27San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Aria: Tu che sei di verita (Crisostomo)1:00Andrea De Carlo
28San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Recitative: Ascolta, Eudosia, ascolta (Crisostomo, Eudosia)0:42Arianna Vendittelli
29San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Aria: Su, destati, o sdegno! (Eudosia)2:40Arianna Vendittelli
30San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Recitative: Atto sempre non e d'alma clemente (Teofilo, Inviato)0:31Andrea De Carlo
31San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Trio: Benche giuste tempra l'ire (Seguito di Teofilo)1:55Arianna Vendittelli
32San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Recitative: Crisostomo, deh, ascolta (Eudosia, Crisostomo, Inviato, Teofilo)3:25Arianna Vendittelli
34San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Recitative: Dal real trono lunge (Inviato)0:56Andrea De Carlo
35San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Aria: E si bella la luce del di (Inviato)3:07Andrea De Carlo
36San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Recitative: Poi ch'a sponde remote (Eudosia)0:34Arianna Vendittelli
37San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Aria: Gia placata ogni procella (Eudosia)3:18Arianna Vendittelli
38San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Trio: Al tuo merto, alta reina (Cortigiani di Eudosia)1:13Andrea De Carlo
39San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Aria: D'obbedirti il fato ambisce (Teofilo)1:07Andrea De Carlo
40San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Recitative: Vive Eudosia tra fasti (Testo)1:16Andrea De Carlo
41San Giovanni Crisostomo, Pt. 2: Part II: Duet: Giocondo nel mondo (Due consiglieri)2:37Andrea De Carlo
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Stradella: San Giovanni Crisostomo
Andrea De Carlo Lyrics
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