Domenico Sarro facts for kids
Domenico Natale Sarro (born 1679, died 1744) was an important composer from Italy. People also called him Domenico Sarri. He wrote many different kinds of music. He created 18 operas, which are plays set to music. He also composed cantatas, oratorios, and pieces for instruments like the flute. His operas were very popular in Naples during the 1700s. Today, you don't hear them often. Sarro was born in Trani, a city in southern Italy, and he died in Naples.
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Domenico Sarro's Life
Domenico Sarro was born in Trani, a city in the Apulia region of Italy. His parents were Filippo and Isabella Sarro. When he was ten years old, his parents sent him to a conservatory. A conservatory is a special music school. He went to school in Naples.
Some music historians think his first music school was the Conservatorio della Pietà dei Turchini. Others believe he also studied at the Conservatorio di Sant'Onofrio. He might even have taught at the Conservatorio di Sant'Onofrio.
Early Career and Family
Sarro's first important piece of music was an opera called Opera d'amore. This means The Work of Love. It was performed in Naples in 1702. The Prince of Villafranca helped Sarro when he was young. The Prince helped him get a job as an assistant music master for the King of Naples in 1704. A music master is like a main musician or conductor. The Prince also paid Sarro to write music for him.
In 1705, Sarro married Caterina Tortorella. She was a young music student. He lost his job as assistant royal music master in 1707. This happened when Austria took control of Naples. From 1707 to 1718, he mostly wrote church music, oratorios, and serenades.
Becoming Famous
Sarro started writing operas again in 1718. He quickly became very famous. He was the first composer to use a libretto by Pietro Metastasio for an opera. A libretto is the text or story of an opera.
This opera was about Dido, Queen of Carthage. It was called Didone abbandonata. Its title means Dido Abandoned in Italian. It was performed in Naples in 1724 and was a big success. Sarro got his job back as assistant royal music master in 1725. In 1728, he also became the official music master for the city of Naples.
Later Life and Important Works
Sarro's opera Berenice was chosen to open the Teatro Argentina in Rome in 1732. When the main royal music master, Francesco Mancini, died in 1737, Sarro took over his job. Later that year, his opera Achille in Sciro was chosen to open the new Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. This opera means Achilles in Skyros.
Sarro's wife, Caterina, died in April 1739. Three months later, he married Rachele de Siena. He was 59 years old, and she was 27. Sarro's last new opera, Ezio, was performed in 1741. It was at the Teatro di San Carlo. It tells the story of Flavius Aetius, a Roman general from the 5th century. Ezio is the Italian name for Aetius.
Domenico Sarro died in 1744. He was 64 years old. After he died, the composer Leonardo Leo took over his job as the royal music master.
See also
In Spanish: Domenico Natale Sarro para niños
