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Francesco CileaItalian composer
Date of Birth: 26.07.1866
Country:  Italy |
Content:
- Biography of Francesco Cilea
- Early Career and Success
- Adriana Lecouvreur
- Later Works and Teaching Career
- Death
Biography of Francesco Cilea
Francesco Cilea was an Italian composer born on July 26, 1866, in Palmi, Calabria. He was overshadowed by the achievements of his contemporary musician, Puccini, despite his own significant talent. His music is characterized by its softness, poetic nature, and melancholic sensitivity.
Early Career and Success
In 1889, Cilea wrote his first opera, "Gina," which received critical acclaim. In the same year, he completed his studies at the conservatory. In April 1892, his opera "Tilda" premiered at the Palazzo in Florence and achieved great success. It was also performed in several cities in Italy and Vienna.
Adriana Lecouvreur
In 1902, Cilea created his most famous opera, "Adriana Lecouvreur," based on a play by E. Scribe, which tells the story of a prominent French actress from the 18th century. The opera premiered at the Teatro Lirico in Milan and became a classic in the opera world. Throughout the year, "Adriana Lecouvreur" was staged in many cities in Europe and Buenos Aires.
The opera's success was attributed to Cilea's increased mastery as a composer and the excellent libretto written by A. Colautti. The role of Adriana was performed by some of the most outstanding opera singers of the 20th century, such as Magda Olivero, Renata Tebaldi, and Mirella Freni.
Later Works and Teaching Career
Cilea's last opera, "Gloria," premiered in 1907 at La Scala. In 1909, he composed the opera "Le nozze forestali," which unfortunately was never performed. Following this, Cilea began teaching and became the director of the conservatory in Palermo in 1913. From 1916 to 1935, he served as the director of the conservatory in Naples.
