Domenico Cimarosa

Italian composer. Born in Aversa near Naples. Studied at the Naples Conservatory, he made his debut as an opera composer in 1772, and played an active role as a representative of the Neapolitan school of opera, rivalling Paisiello in popularity. After serving as the court conductor in St. Petersburg from 1787 to 1791 and in Vienna from 1792 to 1793, he served as the court conductor in Naples from 1796, but was sentenced to death after the failure of the revolution for composing a hymn to the republic during the civil uprising of 1799. His sentence was commuted to exile at the request of his friends, but he died suddenly in Venice, and at the time there were rumors that he had been poisoned by the Neapolitan authorities. Most of his nearly 70 operas are opera buffa (comic operas) filled with graceful melodies and light dramatic sensibilities, and his representative work, "The Secret Marriage" (premiered in Vienna in 1792), is counted among the masterpieces of the late 18th century and is still frequently performed today. Other notable works include the sole singer in the "Hofkamerkammer" (year of composition unknown), "The Imperious Impresario" (1786), which was highly praised by Goethe during his trip to Italy, and the richly shadowy "Requiem in G minor" (1787).

[Hajime Okubo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イタリアの作曲家。ナポリ近郊のアベルサに生まれる。ナポリの音楽院で学び、1772年オペラ作曲家としてデビュー、パイジェッロと人気を二分するナポリ楽派オペラの代表者として活躍。87～91年ペテルブルグ、92～93年ウィーンの宮廷楽長を経て、96年よりナポリの宮廷楽長を務めたが、99年の市民蜂起(ほうき)の際に共和制への賛歌を作曲したため、革命の失敗後死刑を宣告された。友人の嘆願で追放処分に減刑されたが、ベネチアで急死したため、当時ナポリ当局による毒殺が噂(うわさ)された。70曲近いオペラの大半は、優美な旋律と軽妙な劇的感覚にあふれるオペラ・ブッファ（喜劇的オペラ）で、代表作『秘密の結婚』（1792・ウィーン初演）は18世紀後半の傑作オペラに数えられ、今日も上演機会が多い。ほかに、出演歌手が1人だけの『宮廷楽士長』（作曲年不明）、イタリア旅行中のゲーテが絶賛した『困った興業師』（1786）、陰影に富む『レクイエム・ト短調』（1787）などが知られる。

［大久保一］

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