Francesco Corselli

Francesco Corselli (Piacenza, April 19, 1705 - April 3, 1778 in Madrid) was an Italian composer of the pre-classical period.

Francesco Corselli (Courcelle) was born April 19, 1705 in Piacenza, Italy from French parents.

He was the director of music for the funerals of Francesco Farnese in Parma in 1724, and Antonio Farnese in 1731, and Kapellmeister at the Church of Santa Maria della Steccata, 1727-1731, and simultaneously at the court of Parma, 1727-33. From this period date his first works: the operas La Venere placata (1731, at the Teatro San Samuele in Venice) and Nino (1732, at the Reggio Theatre ) and various compositions of religious music, Including the oratorio Santa Clotilde (1733 in Parma).

In 1734 he decided to move to Madrid, Spain where he was active as a tenor, harpsichordist and violinist and music teacher of the Royal Infants. In 1737/38 he joined the "Colegio de cantorcillos" until his death. In 1747, he was appointed director of the Theatre at the Buen Retiro, along with two other Italian composers Francesco Corradini and Giovanni Battista Mele. In Madrid, Corselli composed several operas and many pieces of religious music, especially after he was appointed in 1738 Kapellmeister at the Royal Chapel.

Corselli died in Madrid April 3, 1778.

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