Pavesi, Stefano

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Pavesi, Stefano

Pavesi, Stefano , Italian composer; b. Casaletto Vaprio, near Crema, Jan. 22, 1779; d. Crema, July 28, 1850. He was a pupil of Piccinni in Naples (1795–97) and of Fenaroli there at the Cons, di S. Onofrio, later S. Maria di Loreto (1797–99). After being expelled for his revolutionary sentiments, he was deported to Marseilles, joined Napoleon’s Army, and fought in the Italian campaign. He then completed his vocal training with Gazzaniga, whom he succeeded as maestro di cappella at Crema Cathedral (1818–50). From 1826 to 1830 Pavesi also served as music director of the Vienna Court Opera. He composed about 70 operas, winning notable success with La fiera (Florence, 1804), La festa della rosa (Venice, May 21, 1808), Ser Marcantonio (Milan, Sept. 26, 1810), and Fenella, ovvero La muta Portici (Venice, Feb. 5,1831). Among his other compositions were sacred pieces, songs, and 6 harpsichord sonatas.

Bibliography

F. Sanseverino, Notizie intorno alla vita e alle opere del Maestro S. P. (Milan, 1851).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire