Franchesko Araja Composer and court conductor of the times of Anna Ioannovna and Elizaveta Petrovna Country: Italy

Biography of Francesco Araja

Francesco Araja was an Italian composer and court conductor during the reigns of Anna Ioannovna and Elizaveta Petrovna. He was born in Naples in 1700. Araja's first opera, "Berenica," was presented in 1730 at the palace of the Grand Duke of Tuscany near Florence. Soon after, his second opera, "Amore per regnante," was performed in Rome.

In 1735, a large Italian opera troupe, under the direction of composer A. Lonati, was summoned to St. Petersburg. Their performances took place in the Winter Palace during the winter and in the Summer Garden Theater during the summer. In 1737, Araja's opera "Abiazare" was staged at the St. Petersburg Court Theater, marking the first Italian opera to be performed in the city.

Araja went on to produce several more operas, including "Semiramide," "Scipione," "Arzace," "Seleucus," "Bellerofonte," and "Alessandro in India." He is also credited with composing the opera "La Russia afflitta e riconsolata" in Moscow in 1742, although some attribute this work to composer Daloglio.

In 1740, Araja was sent abroad to invite new artists and singers after the fall of Biron. In 1755, he wrote the music for the opera "Tsefal i Prokris," with a text by A.P. Sumarokov. This opera marked a milestone in Russian theater history, as it was the first opera written in Russian and performed by Russian singers. The premiere took place on February 27 or March 1, 1755, at the Winter Palace Theater in St. Petersburg. The sets were created by Valeriani, who received the title of "First Historical Painter, Professor of Perspective, and Theater Architecture Engineer at the Imperial Russian Court." Notable performers in the opera included Elizaveta Belogradskaya, the daughter of a lutenist, and singers from Count Razumovsky's court, including Gavril Marzenkovich. The opera was a resounding success, and as a token of gratitude, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna presented Araja with an expensive sable fur coat valued at 500 rubles.

In 1759, Araja returned to Italy and lived comfortably in Bologna with the wealth he had acquired in Russia. He passed away in 1767. His final works included the oratorio "La Nativita di Gesu" and the opera "La Cimotea."