Giovanni Paisiello

(Giovanni Paesiello). Born May 9, 1740, in Taranto; died June 5,1816, in Naples. Italian composer; representative of the Neapolitan school of opera.

Paisiello made his debut as a composer in Bologna with the opera Il ciarlone (1764). From 1776 to 1783 he lived in Russia, where he served as Kapellmeister at court and as supervisor of the Italian Opera in St. Petersburg. He composed and staged a number of operas in the Russian capital, including La serva padrona (1781) and The Barber of Seville (1782). From 1784 to 1802 and from 1803 to 1815 he was court composer in Naples. He held a similar position in Paris from 1802 to 1803. A master of opera buffa, he created more than 100 operas, including La molinara (1788) and Nina, o sia la pazza per amore (1789). Typical of his operas are swift development of the action, lively ensemble pieces, and a wealth of comic devices (tongue twisters, parody, and voice exchange). Paisiello also wrote 12 symphonies, as well as sacred instrumental chamber music.