Nicolini, Giuseppe

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Nicolini, Giuseppe

Nicolini, Giuseppe, Italian composer; b. Piacenza, Jan. 29, 1762; d. there, Dec. 18, 1842. He studied with his father, Omobono Nicolini, organist and maestro di cappella in Piacenza. Following vocal instruction from Filippo Macedone, he studied composition at the Cons. di S. Onofrio in Naples with Insanguine. During the first two decades of the 19th century, Nicolini enjoyed great popularity as a composer for the theater, bringing out some 50 operas in all. However, with the ascendancy of Rossini, he abandoned the theater and in 1819 was made maestro di cappella at Piacenza Cathedral. He died in poverty, long forgotten by his contemporaries. In addition to his operas, he wrote some orch. pieces, chamber music, and many sacred works. Piacenza finally honored its native son by naming the Liceo Musicale after him in 1914.

Bibliography

E. de Giovanni, G. N. e Sebastiano Nasolini (Piacenza, 1927).

—Nicolas Slomnisky/Laura Kaun/Dennis McIntire