Antonio Capuzzi facts for kids
Giuseppe Antonio Capuzzi (also known as Capucci) was an Italian violin player and composer. He was born on August 1, 1755, and passed away on March 28, 1818.
Capuzzi studied music in Venice, Italy. He learned to play the violin from A. Nazari and studied how to compose music with F. G. Bertoni.
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Capuzzi's Musical Career
Giuseppe Capuzzi started his professional music career in 1780. He became the concertmaster, which is the lead violinist, for the orchestra at the Teatro di S. Samuele. Later, he became the director of the orchestra at the Teatro di S. Benedetto.
In 1805, Capuzzi moved to the Bergamo Conservatory. There, he became the orchestral director and also taught music as a professor. The conservatory was located at the S. Maria Maggiore at that time.
Famous Works and Music
Even though Giuseppe Capuzzi was very popular during his lifetime, most of his music is not often played today. However, one of his pieces is still well-known and performed: his concerto for the double bass. A concerto is a piece of music written for a solo instrument and an orchestra.
The Double Bass Concerto
Capuzzi's double bass concerto was discovered in the British Museum. He dedicated this piece to Kavalier Marcantonio Montenigo. People believe that Montenigo might have played the double bass himself.
Parts of this concerto are also played on other instruments. The second (Andante) and third (Rondo) movements of the concerto have been arranged for the tuba, euphonium, and trombone. A musician named Philip Catelinet even arranged all three movements for a concert band and a symphony orchestra. He performed it many times at Carnegie Mellon University. His students also played this piece.
Other Compositions
Capuzzi also wrote many ballets. These ballets were often performed between the acts of plays and operas. His most famous ballet was called La villageoise, which was performed in London in 1796.
Besides ballets, Capuzzi composed a lot of other music. He wrote five operas, eleven ballets, and four violin concertos. He also created eighteen string quartets and other types of chamber music. Some of his string quintets are still performed by small music groups today.
