Giovanni Pacini

about

Giovanni Pacini (February 2, 1796. – December 6, 1867) was an Italian composer, best known for his operas. Pacini was born in Catania, Sicily, to the son of the buffo Luigi Pacini, who was to appear in the premieres of many of Giovanni's operas. The family was of Tuscan origin, and just happened to be in Catania when the composer was born. During his lifetime, Pacini wrote some 74 operas. This is less than earlier estimates, which ranged from 80 to 90, since it has now been ascertained that many were just alternate titles for other works. His first 25 or so operas were written when Rossini dominated the Italian operatic stage. They were, not surprisingly, in the fashionable Rossini style. After Rossini moved to Paris in 1824, Pacini and his contemporaries (Meyerbeer, Vaccai, Carafa, Coccia, Bellini, Donizetti, the Ricci brothers and Mercadante) collectively began to change the nature of Italian opera and took bel canto singing in a new direction. Orchestration became heavier, coloratura was reduced, especially for men's voices, and more importance was placed on lyrical pathos. While there were exceptions, romantic leads were assigned to tenors (in Rossini's prime, they were frequently sung by women referred to as "musicos"). Villains became basses or later baritones (while they usually were tenors for Rossini). Over time, far more emphasis was to be placed on the drama. The role that Pacini played in instituting these changes is only now beginning to be recognized. There

top songs

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Stella di Napoli

Saffo

Pacini: Maria, Regina D'Inghilterra

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Maria

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Pacini: La regina di Cipro: Allor ch’è a mezzo la notte bruna

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Pacini: Alessandro nell'Indie

Pacini: Messa di Requiem, Confitebor & Sinfonia Dante

Pacini: Carlo Di Borgogna

PACINI: Saffo

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Pacini: L'Ultimo Giorno Di Pompei

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Pacini: Il convitato di pietra

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Pacini, G.: Carlo di Borgogna

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