✝

Italian Baroque composer and musician. He is considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of operatic music. Currently, he is better remembered as one of the most famous artists of the 18th century. father of the piano composer Domenico Scarlatti.Alessandra Skarlatis was born in 1660. May 2 in Palermo. Father Pietro Scarlata was a tenor, mother Eleonora d'Amato came from a family of musicians. in 1672 the family moved to Rome after the epidemic in Palermo. Father died Pietro died either right before or right after. His friend Marc' Antonio Sportonio supported the family and Alessandro's musical education. in 1678 April 12 Alessandro married Antonia Maria Vittoria Anzaloni. The couple lived in the palace of the great Roman artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. This was probably mediated by a distant relative, Cosimo Scarlatti, who worked for Bernini. in 1679 January 11 the couple had their first son, Pietras. His godfather was Bernini's son Philip.in 1678 Alessandro Skarlatis got the post of Kapellmeister in the church of San Giacomo degli Incurabili a few months after his marriage. His first opera, Gli equivoci nel sembiante, was performed privately immediately afterwards. The opera was successful and staged in other cities (in Rome at that time the public theaters were closed). Alessandro wrote music for the nobleman and patron Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili. In 1680, or even before, Alessandra became the Kapellmeister of Queen Christina of Sweden, who lived in Rome. in 1682 took the post of Kapellmeister in the Church of San Girolamo della Carità.Alessandro Scarlattis attracted the attention of supporters from Naples, the Duke of Madaloni and the Marquis of Carpio. Probably with their support, he moved to Naples, where after 1684 February 12 the late Pietro Andrea Ziani was appointed Kapellmeister of the Royal Chapel. Alessandro's works were a great success in Naples, not without the envy of the locals. Still, it was difficult for him to support a large family. He had 5 children born in Naples, the first of whom was born in 1685. October 26 born Domenico Scarlatti. While in Naples, Alexander maintained contacts with Rome. 1690 His opera was performed in Rome. Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni became the sponsor. Alessandro's son Pietra became a composer, Domenik showed exceptional talent. His daughters sang in private. in 1701 Alexander tried to retreat from Naples, probably because of the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession, but the viceroy did not release him. in 1702 Alessandro wrote the serenade "Clori, Dorino e Amore" and the opera "Tiberio Imperatore d'Oriente" on the occasion of the visit of Philip V of Spain and Naples to Naples.During his travels to Florence and Rome, Alessandro hoped to find better posts, but was disappointed. Ferdinand de Medici, Duke of Florence, did not give him any posts, and in Rome Alessandro had to take the humble position of assistant Kapellmeister in the Congregazione dell’Oratorio di San Filippo Neri community. in 1703 Alessandro became the assistant director of the choir of Santa Maria Maggiore. These posts were not very useful to Alessandro. 1702-06 he wrote several operas for the Duke of Florence, Ferdinand Medici (opera productions were banned in Rome at that time by the Pope). Alessandro visited the duke, apparently with the aim of protecting his son Domenico, but the trip was unsuccessful. He left his post in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore (he had already given up his post in the congregation in 1705) and went to Venice, where two of his operas were staged with the support of Cardinal Ottoboni. After that he returned to Rome. on the way he stayed in Urbino, where he visited his son Pietro and wrote a letter to Ferdinand Medici asking for support, but the duke did not offer anything concrete. in 1707 Alessandro returned to Rome, where, through the mediation of Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, he obtained the position of Kapellmeister at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore after the death of his predecessor. There were few orders in Rome, and the pay for work in the church was insufficient. Alessandro was probably looking for opportunities to return to the court of Naples.

in 1708 July 7 Control of Naples passed to Austria. Alessandro wrote a letter to the new viceroy, Cardinal Vincenzo Grimani, in which he testified that he had to leave Naples because of threats to his life. Vincenzo Grimani probably took the opportunity to get the famous musician back. His son Pietras was given the post of organist. Comic operas were becoming popular in Naples at that time, which Alessandro was not used to writing and tried this genre only in 1718. in the staged opera "Il trionfo dell'onore". His operas were staged in Rome. in 1716 Pope Clement XI gave him the title of cavalier (knighted). During his lifetime, Skarlatis wrote about 115 operas (most of the scores have not survived), at least 600 cantatas and other works. Despite his high productivity, he constantly had financial problems and died in 1725. October 22 Leaving his family in poverty in Naples. His most famous operas are "Mitridate Eupatore" (1707), "Telemaco" (1718) and "Griselda" (1721). Nowadays, his "St. Cecilia's Mass' (1721). The motet "Tu es Petrus" was performed at Napoleon's coronation as emperor in 1803. at the ceremony. Alessandro Scarlatti is buried in the Church of Santa Maria di Montesanto in Naples.