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.
Siface re di Numidia (also: Siface or Viriate) is a
libretto in three acts by Pietro Metastasio. It is a
reworking of La forza della virtù by de:Domenico David
and was Metastasio's first work as a librettist. it was
first performed with a setting to music by Francesco
Feo on 13 May 1723 at the Teatro San Bartolomeo,
Naples. Siface (Syphax) is planning a marriage of
convenience with Viriate but then falls in love with
Ismene. He then tries various intrigues to get rid of
Viriate.
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 "Ride il ciel per me sereno" (The
sky laughs peacefully for me) from "Siface, re di
Numidia" for Oboe & Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).