Born
August 18, 1750
Died
May 7, 1825
Country
Italy
Italian composer Antonio Salieri was born into a musical family in Verona, Italy. He began his early studies in Venice alongside his older brother, who was a pupil of Tartini. Salieri spent most of his productive years in Vienna, beginning as a pupil of several well-established Viennese musicians. Through these connections, he became acquainted with Emperor Joseph, who was a generous patron of the musical establishment in Vienna.
Salieri’s first opera, a 1770 comedy entitled Le donna letterate, was well received. He was then appointed court composer in 1774 and “Kappelmeister” (music director) of the court in 1778.
The Oscar®-winning film Amadeus grossly mischaracterized Salieri, portraying him as a jealous, backstabbing villain. While they admit to the rivalry between him and the younger genius, Salieri’s biographers describe him as generous, kind, and honorable. Although he could have used his considerable influence in the Viennese musical community to help the struggling Mozart, he neglected to do so. However, upon Mozart’s death, he took an interest in his rival’s son and secured for him an appointment to the emperor’s court.
Salieri was a prolific composer. His catalog includes 33 operas, dozens of sacred and secular choral works, and a number of compositions for various instrumental ensembles. He presented operas in many of the concert venues throughout Europe. The most important of his operas is considered to be Axur Re d’Ormus (1787).
Salieri married and had one son; but, unfortunately, his wife and son died in 1805 and 1806. In 1816, he was awarded the gold “Civil Medal of Honor” at a concert of works by some of his students, Franz Schubert among them. After 50 years of service to the court he retired in 1824, a year before his death.
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Video
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You might see some of these instruments when you come to the Kennedy Center, watch a performance by your school band, or at any other concert you attend! Click the slides to learn more about some of the most frequently spotted instruments in each family.
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