Giuseppe Sarti

Full biography Giuseppe Sarti

Giuseppe Sarti was a composer born in Faenza, Italy on December 1st, 1729. He gained fame during his time as one of the most prominent composers of opera seria, a genre that dominated the opera world in the 18th century.

Sarti received his earliest musical education from his father, who was the bandmaster of a local marching band. At the age of nineteen, he moved to Bologna to study music, where he joined the Accademia Filarmonica. There, he studied composition with Padre Martini, one of the leading music theorists of his time.

In 1752, Sarti moved to Venice, where he obtained his first position as a composer for an opera. It was during this time that he began to write his own operas, which gained popularity across Europe. One of his most successful operas was Giulio Sabino, which premiered in Venice in 1763 and was performed throughout Italy, Germany, France, and England.

In 1770, Sarti moved to Russia to work in the court of Catherine the Great. He became the court composer and worked there until 1784 when he returned to Italy. During his time in Russia, he composed several operas, cantatas, and chamber music for Catherine the Great. One of his most famous works from this period was the opera "Armida", which was performed to great acclaim.

Sarti's later years were spent teaching music and composing operas, which continued to receive critical acclaim. He died in 1802 in Berlin, Germany, where he had traveled to in order to attend the premiere of his new opera.

In summary, Giuseppe Sarti was a prominent Italian composer of the 18th century, known for his operas. He achieved success both in Italy and across Europe and served as a court composer to Catherine the Great in Russia.