Carlo Evasio Soliva

Full biography Carlo Evasio Soliva

Carlo Evasio Soliva (27 November 1791 – 20 December 1853) was a Swiss-Italian composer of opera , chamber music, and sacred choral works. He was born in Casale Monferrato, which is now part of Italy, but was then part of the Swiss Confederation. Soliva's father was a Protestant minister, and his mother was of Italian descent.

Soliva began his musical career as a choirboy in Casale Monferrato. He received his first formal musical training in Paris, where he studied with Luigi Cherubini. He later returned to Italy and became a successful opera composer, with many of his works being performed in theaters throughout Europe.

Soliva's most famous work is the opera "Un giuramento", which premiered in Milan in 1818. The opera was based on a libretto by Felice Romani, one of the leading librettists of the day. Soliva went on to compose several other operas, including "L'amore in guerra" and "La fenice sul rogo".

In addition to his work as an opera composer, Soliva also composed chamber music and sacred choral works. His music is notable for its lyricism and clarity of form. Soliva is considered one of the leading composers of his time, and his music was highly regarded by his contemporaries.

Today, Soliva is perhaps best known for his role as conductor at the premiere of Frederic Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1. He conducted the piece with Chopin himself at the piano, and the performance was met with thunderous applause. Soliva is also remembered as the father of Charles-Émile Soliva, a prominent Swiss composer and pianist.

Overall, Carlo Evasio Soliva was a significant figure in the world of 19th-century music, and his contributions to the genre continue to be appreciated and celebrated today.