Maria Teresa Agnesi Pinottini facts for kids
Maria Teresa Agnesi (born October 17, 1720 – died January 19, 1795) was an Italian composer. She was best known for her music, but she was also a talented harpsichordist and singer. Most of her music that we still have today was written for keyboard instruments, singing, or both.
Early Life and Family
Maria Teresa was born in Milan, Italy. Her father, Pietro Agnesi, was a nobleman. He made sure Maria Teresa and her older sister, Maria Gaetana, received an early education. Maria Gaetana was very famous for her skills in math and languages. She gave talks and debates across Europe. While Maria Gaetana was doing this, Maria Teresa was performing her music.
On June 13, 1752, Maria Teresa married Pier Antonio Pinottini. They lived in a part of Milan where many smart people and artists lived. Sadly, they later faced serious money problems. Pier Antonio Pinottini died not long after this. Maria Teresa died in Milan in 1795.
Musical Career
We do not know much about Maria Teresa's education or who taught her music. Also, the exact dates for many of her compositions are unknown. Many of her musical works have been lost, even though we have records that they once existed.
Maria Teresa's career was helped by the way things were in Austrian Lombardy. This area was quite open-minded about women's rights at the time. This was more common in cities like Vienna and Dresden than in her hometown of Milan. Because of this, Maria Teresa found more success and people who appreciated her music more in those cities.
Maria Teresa had several famous performances. One of the most well-known was on July 16, 1739. A famous French traveler named Charles de Brosses was very impressed by her music. He was not the only one. Count Gerolamo Riccati wrote many letters praising her compositions and musical talent.
Another very famous performance was her first big show for the theater. This was a cantata called Il Ristoro d'Arcadia. It was performed in Milan at the Teatro Regio Ducale in 1747. She dedicated this piece to different rulers from Saxony and Austria.
Agnesi also received support from important people. These included Maria Theresa, the Holy Roman Empress, and Maria Antonia Walpurgis. Maria Antonia Walpurgis was also a talented composer and lived at the same time as Maria Teresa. It is said that the Roman Empress even sang at Maria Teresa Agnesi's famous 1747 performance.
Musical Legacy
Today, Maria Teresa Agnesi's music is not performed very often. Her keyboard music is often hard to play. Some people say her early music was simple and clear. However, her later works became more complex and dramatic. This shows that her music grew and changed throughout her career.
Compositions
Operas
- II Restauro di Arcadia (a pastoral cantata), Milan, Teatro Regio Ducale, 1747 (this music is lost)
- La Sofonisba (a heroic drama)
- Ciro in Armenia (a serious drama), Milan, Teatro Regio Ducale, December 26, 1753 (parts of Act 3 remain)
- Il re pastore (a serious drama), around 1755
- La Insubria Consolata (a dramatic piece), Milan, 1766
- Nitocri (a serious drama) (parts of Act 2 remain)
- Ulisse in Campania (a serenade)
Keyboard, Small Ensemble, and Vocal Music
- 12 arias (songs for a solo voice)
- Aria en Murki: Still, stille Mann!
- 4 concertos (pieces for a solo instrument and orchestra)
- Sonata, G (a piece for one or two instruments)
- Sonata, F
- Allegro ou Presto (fast pieces)
- Allemande militare & Menuetto grazioso (dance-like pieces for keyboard)
See also
In Spanish: Maria Teresa Agnesi para niños
