Leonardo Vinci (1690 – 1730) was an Italian composer
known chiefly for his 40 or so operas; comparatively
little of his work in other genres survives. A central
proponent of the Neapolitan School of opera, his
influence on subsequent opera composers such as Johann
Adolph Hasse and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi was
considerable. He was born at Strongoli and educated at
Naples under Gaetano Greco in the Conservatorio dei
Poveri di Gesù Cristo. He first became known for his
opere buffe (comic oper...(+)
Leonardo Vinci (1690 – 1730) was an Italian composer
known chiefly for his 40 or so operas; comparatively
little of his work in other genres survives. A central
proponent of the Neapolitan School of opera, his
influence on subsequent opera composers such as Johann
Adolph Hasse and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi was
considerable. He was born at Strongoli and educated at
Naples under Gaetano Greco in the Conservatorio dei
Poveri di Gesù Cristo. He first became known for his
opere buffe (comic operas) in the Neapolitan language
in 1719; he also composed many opere serie (dramatic
operas). He was received into the Congregation of the
Rosary, a lay religious and burial fraternity, at
Formiello in 1728. He died in May 1730. Vinci is
rumoured to have been poisoned by a jealous husband in
the wake of an ill-advised affair, a story which is
given by several reliable authorities without evident
contradictions.
Set to music for the first time by Leonardo Vinci in
1729, the Semiramide riconosciuta is one of Pietro
Metastasio's most famous librettos. At the beginning of
Act II, Tamiri must offer a cup to the one of her
suitors whom she chooses as her husband. Repelling both
the brutal Ircano and the candid Mirteo, the princess
presents the cup to Scitalce. He, however, recognized
Nino Semiramide, whom he loved in his youth: troubled,
he refused the offer from Tamiri, who, outraged,
demanded revenge. Ircano then proposes to kill
Scitalce, whom Mirteo also challenges to a duel. To
save the prince, Semiramide has him arrested. Scitalce,
who remains wrongly convinced that Semiramide once
betrayed him, however only sees this decision as an act
of perfidy. Thus the very ambiguous text of the aria
that he sings before leaving the stage alludes to
Semiramide's supposed betray.
Vinci's opere buffe, of which Li zite 'ngalera (1722)
is generally regarded as the best, are full of life and
spirit; his opere serie, of which Didone Abbandonata
(Rome, 1726) and Artaserse (Rome, 1730) are the most
notable, have an incisive vigour and directness of
dramatic expression praised by music historian Charles
Burney. In addition to operas, Vinci wrote a few
cantatas, sonatas, a serenata, and two oratorios
(Oratorio di Maria dolorata ca. 1723 and Oratorio per
la Santissima Vergine del Rosario ca. 1730). His sonata
in D major for flute and basso continuo is still played
today. He composed two sonatas for the recorder in
addition to a recorder concerto in A minor.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_Vinci).
Although originally created for Voice (Tenor) and
Strings (2 violino, Viola & Basso Continuo), I created
this Arrangement of "Voi che le mie vicende" (You who
have witnessed my actions) from "Semiramide
Riconosciuta" for Oboe & Strings (2 Violins, Viola &
Cello).
SHEET MUSIC