Porta, Bernardo

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Porta, Bernardo

Porta, Bernardo , Italian composer and teacher; b. Rome, 1758; d. Paris, June 11, 1829. He was a pupil of Magrini. He was the 1st maestro di cappella and director of the Tivoli orch., and then was in the service of the Prince of Salm, the prelate of Rome. About 1758 he went to Paris, where he composed several dramatic works. He also was active as a teacher until 1822.

Works

DRAMATIC (all lst perf. in Paris unless otherwise given): La principessa d’Amalfi (Rome, 1780); Le diable à quatre, ou La double metamorphose (Feb. 14, 1790); Pagamin, ou Le calendrier des vieillards (March 29, 1792); La blanche Haguenée (May 24, 1793); Alexis et Rosette, ou Les Huhlans (Aug. 3, 1793); La réunion du 10 août, ou L’inauguration de la République française (April 5, 1794); Agricole Viala, ou Le héroes de 13 ans (July 1, 1794); Le pauvre aveugle, ou La chanson savoyarde July 24, 1797); L’oracle (1797); Le prisonnier français, ou Le bienfait récompensé (Oct. 2, 1789); Deux morts qui se volent (April 26, 1800); Les deux statues (April 29, 1800); Les Horaces (Oct. 18, 1800); Le vieux de la montagne (1802; unfinished; not perf.); Le connétable de Clisson (Feb. 9 or 10, 1804). OTHER: 2 oratorios, masses, motets, a cantata, and didactic instrumental pieces.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire