Luigi Canepa facts for kids

Luigi Canepa

Luigi Canepa (born January 15, 1849 – died May 12, 1914) was a talented Italian composer who wrote operas. He is most famous for his opera called Riccardo III, which came out in 1879. Luigi Canepa was born and passed away in Sassari, a city on the island of Sardinia.

Who Was Luigi Canepa?

Luigi Canepa was an important Italian composer. He lived during a time when opera was very popular. Canepa wrote several operas that were performed in big theaters. He also taught music and was involved in his local government.

Early Life and Musical Talent

Luigi Canepa was born in Sassari, Sardinia. His parents, Francesco and Angela Solari, quickly noticed his gift for music. When he was only eight years old, he started learning to play the flute.

At the age of 10, Luigi went to the Milan Conservatory, a famous music school. He studied there until 1861. The next year, he moved to the Naples Conservatory. There, he studied with Saverio Mercadante, a well-known composer. By the time he was just fifteen, Luigi won a special competition. This allowed him to study advanced music composition.

A Patriot and Composer

In 1867, Luigi Canepa left the conservatory for a short time. He joined Giuseppe Garibaldi to fight for the freedom of Rome. During this time, he was injured and taken prisoner. After this experience, he returned to his music studies. He moved to Milan to continue learning about composition.

In 1871, Canepa wrote his first opera, "Davide Rizio." An opera is a play where the story is sung instead of spoken. This opera was based on the lives of David Rizzio and Mary Stuart. It was first performed in 1872 and became quite popular. It was even shown in other Italian cities and in Barcelona, Spain.

Famous Operas

In 1874, Canepa created another opera called "I Pezzenti." This work was performed at La Scala, a very famous opera house in Milan. It was also shown in many other theaters across Europe.

Canepa's third opera, "Riccardo III", became his most celebrated work. It was first performed in 1879. Critics and other famous composers, like Giuseppe Verdi and Amilcare Ponchielli, praised it highly. This opera truly showed Canepa's talent.

Later Life and Legacy

After his success, Luigi Canepa became seriously ill. This forced him to stop composing for a while and return to his hometown of Sassari. There, he focused on writing about music and teaching.

In 1891, he decided to get involved in local politics. He ran for city council and was elected. He served as a city councilor for several years.

When his health improved, Canepa started composing again. However, he was not as famous as before. During this period, he wrote a Mass (a type of religious music). He also composed a funeral march for Giuseppe Garibaldi and a sad song for Nino Bixio.

Canepa's last major work was a comic opera called "Amsicora." It was performed in Sassari in 1903.

Today, the Conservatory of Music in Sassari is named after Luigi Canepa. So are the town band, a street in Sassari, and a choir. He is buried in the Monumental Cemetery of Sassari, along with his mother and son.