# Alessandro Scarlatti

> Italian composer (1660–1725)

**Wikidata**: [Q183087](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q183087)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessandro_Scarlatti)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alessandro-scarlatti

## Summary

Alessandro Scarlatti was born on May 2, 1660, in Palermo[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] and died on October 22, 1725, in Naples[1][2][3][4][6][12][13][9]. He worked as a composer and harpsichordist[3][10] in the fields of music and Baroque music[14]. He was associated with the Baroque music movement.He held the position of chapelmaster from 1684 to 1702. Additionally, he was a member of the Arcadian Academy.

## Summary
Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian composer and harpsichordist (1660–1725) who played a foundational role in the development of Baroque opera and classical music. He is recognized as a pivotal figure in shaping the structure and emotional depth of Italian opera, particularly through his contributions to the *opera seria* genre.

## Biography
- Born: May 2, 1660, in Palermo, Italy
- Nationality: Italian
- Education: Trained in music under Bernardo Pasquini in Rome
- Known for: Establishing the Neapolitan school of opera and composing over 60 operas and 500 cantatas
- Employer(s): Employed by the Spanish viceroyalty in Naples, the Arcadian Academy, and various Italian courts
- Field(s): Classical music, opera, liturgical music, Baroque composition

## Contributions
Alessandro Scarlatti composed a vast body of work that significantly shaped the musical landscape of the Baroque period:
- **Operas**: Composed over 60 operas, including *Griselda* and *Mitridate Eupatore*, which are considered masterpieces of early 18th-century Italian opera.
- **Cantatas**: Authored more than 500 cantatas, contributing to the evolution of the cantata as a musical form.
- **Liturgical Music**: Wrote numerous sacred works, including masses and oratorios, which were performed in ecclesiastical settings across Italy.
- **Harpsichord Works**: Created influential pieces for the harpsichord that were studied and emulated by later composers.
- **Influence on Musical Form**: Pioneered structural innovations in *opera seria*, particularly in the use of the da capo aria, which became a standard in Baroque vocal music.

## FAQs
**What is Alessandro Scarlatti most famous for?**  
Alessandro Scarlatti is most famous for his operas and his role in defining the structure of Baroque opera, particularly the *da capo aria* format. His works laid the foundation for later developments in operatic composition.

**Where did Alessandro Scarlatti work?**  
Scarlatti worked primarily in Italy, holding positions in Naples, Rome, and Venice. He was associated with the Spanish viceroyalty in Naples and was a member of the Arcadian Academy in Rome, a center for literary and musical culture.

**Who influenced Alessandro Scarlatti’s music?**  
Scarlatti was influenced by earlier Italian composers such as Giacomo Carissimi and Bernardo Pasquini. His own work, in turn, influenced a generation of composers, including his son Domenico Scarlatti and contemporaries like George Frideric Handel.

**What genres did Alessandro Scarlatti compose in?**  
He composed in multiple genres, including opera, sacred music, cantatas, and instrumental works. His primary contributions were in opera and liturgical music, with over 60 operas and numerous sacred compositions to his name.

**Did Alessandro Scarlatti have any notable students or family members in music?**  
Yes, his son Domenico Scarlatti became a renowned composer and harpsichordist, known for his influential keyboard sonatas. Alessandro’s work directly shaped Domenico’s early musical development.

## Why They Matter
Alessandro Scarlatti is considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of opera, which became a dominant force in European classical music. His innovations in operatic structure, particularly the refinement of the *da capo aria*, influenced composers like Handel and Vivaldi. His legacy extends through his son Domenico and through the broader evolution of Italian Baroque music, making him a cornerstone of Western classical tradition.

## Notable For
- Founding the Neapolitan school of opera
- Composing over 60 operas, including *Griselda* and *Mitridate Eupatore*
- Writing more than 500 cantatas, contributing to the development of vocal chamber music
- Pioneering the *da capo aria* structure in opera
- Being a key figure in the Arcadian Academy, Rome’s influential literary and musical institution
- Influencing major composers like Handel and his own son, Domenico Scarlatti
- Establishing stylistic norms for Baroque sacred and secular vocal music

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Alessandro Scarlatti was born on May 2, 1660, in Palermo, Italy. He moved to Rome in his youth to study under the composer Bernardo Pasquini, where he absorbed the musical traditions of central Italy. His early exposure to both sacred and operatic music laid the groundwork for his later innovations.

### Career and Major Works
Scarlatti’s career began in Rome, where he composed his first operas. He later moved to Naples, where he worked under the patronage of the Spanish viceroy. His major operatic works include:
- *Griselda* (1703, 1715, 1721) – a reworking of an earlier opera that became a model of *opera seria*.
- *Mitridate Eupatore* (1695) – one of his earliest and most celebrated operas.

In addition to opera, Scarlatti composed:
- Over 500 cantatas, many of which were published and widely circulated in manuscript form.
- Numerous masses, motets, and oratorios that were performed in churches and courts.
- Harpsichord pieces that were foundational in the development of the Baroque keyboard repertoire.

### Influence and Legacy
Scarlatti’s influence extended beyond his own compositions:
- He shaped the development of *opera seria*, which dominated European stages for over a century.
- His *da capo aria* format became a standard in vocal music, influencing composers like Handel and Vivaldi.
- His son, Domenico Scarlatti, became one of the most important keyboard composers of the 18th century, building on his father’s musical innovations.

### Institutional Affiliations
Scarlatti was a member of the **Arcadian Academy** in Rome, an institution dedicated to the revival of classical ideals in the arts. He also worked closely with the **Spanish viceroyalty in Naples**, where he served as a court composer and helped establish Naples as a center of operatic excellence.

### Musical Style and Innovation
Scarlatti’s music is characterized by:
- Expressive use of the voice in operatic arias
- Integration of Italian and emerging international musical styles
- Development of the cantata as a serious art form
- Refinement of orchestral scoring in both sacred and secular works

### Later Years and Death
Alessandro Scarlatti died on October 22, 1725, in Rome. His death marked the end of an era in Italian Baroque music, but his works continued to be performed and studied, ensuring his influence persisted well into the Classical period.

### Structured Properties and Identifiers
Alessandro Scarlatti is identified in numerous databases and cultural institutions:
- Wikidata ID: [Q377157](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q377157)
- VIAF ID: 118605976
- ISNI: 0000000121253953
- Notable works: *Griselda*, *Mitridate Eupatore*
- Genres: Opera, cantata, sacred music, harpsichord music
- Member of: Arcadian Academy

His legacy is preserved in institutions such as:
- The Palermo Conservatory, where early Italian musical education was formalized
- The Vatican and Italian courts, where his sacred works were performed
- The broader European musical tradition, where his influence shaped the development of opera and instrumental music

### Geographic and Cultural Impact
Scarlatti’s impact was not limited to Italy:
- His works were performed in Vienna, London, and other European centers
- He influenced the development of opera in Spain and the Habsburg territories
- His manuscripts and printed scores were widely distributed, contributing to the dissemination of Italian Baroque style

### Honors and Recognition
- A crater on Mercury is named *Scarlatti* in his honor
- A peak in Antarctica, Scarlatti Peak, is named after him
- His works continue to be performed and recorded by leading Baroque ensembles and opera companies worldwide

Alessandro Scarlatti’s contributions remain central to the understanding of Baroque music, and his influence is evident in the works of composers who followed, from Handel to Mozart and beyond.

## References

1. Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
2. Archivio Storico Ricordi
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18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
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32. [Source](http://www.musiklexikon.ac.at/ml/ml-beacon.txt)
33. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
34. performing-arts.ch