Monza, Carlo

Monza, Carlo, Italian composer; b. Milan, c. 1735; d. there, Dec. 19, 1801. He studied with G.A. Fioroni and most likely received instruction from G.B. Sammartini, whom he succeeded as organist (1768) and then as maestro di cappella (1775) at Milan’s ducal court. He also held the position of maestro di cappella at the churches of S. Maria Segreta, S. Giovanni in Conca, and the Chiesa della Rosa there. He later became maestro di cappella at Milan Cathedral (1787), but retained his position at the ducal court. Illness ended his tenure at the former (1793), and the French occupation (1796) at the latter. He was a skillful composer of both operas and sacred music.

Works

dramatic:opera:Olimpiade (Milan, May 1753); Sesostri re d’Egitto (Milan, Dec. 26, 1759); Achille in Sciro (Milan, Feb. 4, 1764); Temistocle (Milan, Jan. 1, 1766); Oreste (Turin, Carnival 1766); Demetrio (Rome, Jan. 3, 1769); Adriano in Siria (Naples, Nov. 4, 1769); Germanico in Germania (Rome, Jan. 7, 1770); La Lavandara astuta, pasticcio (Milan, July 2, 1770); Nitteti (Milan, Jan. 22, 1771); Aristo e Ternira (Bologna, May 1771); Berenice (Turin, 1771?); Antigono (Rome, Carnival 1772); Il (finto) cavalier parigino (Milan, Sept. 3, 1774); Alessandro nelle Indie (Bologna, Jan. 1775); Cleopatra (Turin, Dec. 26, 1775); Caio Mario (Venice, Ascension Fair 1777); Attilio Regolo (1777; not perf.); Ifigenia in Tauride (Milan, Jan. 1784); Enea in Cartagine (Alessandria, Oct. Fair 1784); Eriflle (Turin, Dec. 26, 1785). Other: Secular cantatas. Other: Much sacred music, including 13 masses, 20 Glorias, 18 offertories, many motets, 11 Magnificats, and 37 hymns; also instrumental works, including several syms., overtures, chamber music, and keyboard pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire