Francesco Gasparini (19 March 1661 – 22 March 1727) was an Italian Baroque composer and teacher whose works were performed throughout Italy, and also on occasion in Germany and England. Biography Born in Camaiore, near Lucca, he studied in Rome with Corelli and Pasquini. His first important opera, Roderico (1694), was produced there. In 1702 he went to Venice and became one of the leading composers in the city. In 1720 he returned to Rome for his last important work, Tigrane (1724). He wrote the first opera using the story of Hamlet (Ambleto, 1705) though this was not based on Shakespeare's play. Gasparini was also a teacher, the instructor of Marcello, Quantz and Domenico Scarlatti. He was musical director of the Ospedale della Pietà, where he employed Antonio Vivaldi as a violin master. He wrote a treatise on the harpsichord (1708). At one time, Metastasio was betrothed to his daughter. He died in Rome in 1727. Works Operas See List of operas by Francesco Gasparini. Other Missa canonica for four voices and basso continuo (Venice, 1705) Reception Gasparini's works were performed throughout Italy, and also on occasion in Germany and England. Missa canonica Gasparini's Missa Canonica was known to Johann Sebastian Bach, who, in 1740, copied it out and—after adding parts for strings, oboes, cornett, trombone, and organ—performed its Kyrie and Gloria in both the St. Thomas Church, Leipzig and St. Nicholas Church, Leipzig. Recordings Dori & Daliso – Mirena & Floro, Auser Musici, Carlo Ipata, director, Symphonia SY 03207 (2004) Cantate da Camera a voce e basso continuo – Susanna Rigacci soprano; Gabriele Micheli harpsichord. Tactus TC 660701 (2004) Il Bajazet – Auser Musici; Carlo Ipata, director; Giuseppina Bridelli, soprano; Ewa Gubańska, mezzo-soprano; Benedetta Mazzucato, contralto; Giorgia Cincirpi, mezzo-soprano; Antonio Giovanni, countertenor; Filippo Mineccia, countertenor; Raffaele Pè, countertenor; Leonardo De Lisi, tenor. Glossa GCD923504 (2015) Arie Sacre -Eleonora Alberici, soprano; Mario Genesi, harsichord (2007), includes motect "Panis Angelicus" by F. Gasparini References Kennedy, Michael (2006), The Oxford Dictionary of Music, Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), The Oxford Dictionary of Opera, External links 1661 births 1727 deaths 18th-century Italian male musicians 18th-century Italian composers Italian Baroque Italian Baroque composers Italian male classical composers Italian music theorists Musicians from the Province of Lucca Pupils of Bernardo Pasquini