Francesco Gasparini

Baroque Italian Composer and Music Teacher

Francesco Gasparini (1661 – 1727) was an Italian Baroque composer and teacher whose career spanned the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is known for his contributions to the development of opera and for his role as a maestro di cappella in various institutions, including the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, where he taught several notable students, including the famous female composer and violinist, Antonio Vivaldi. Gasparini composed a significant number of operas, oratorios, cantatas, and instrumental works. His opera "Il Bajazet" (also known as "Tamerlano") was indeed premiered in 1719 and is one of his better-known works. It reflects the Baroque interest in exotic and historical subjects. While Gasparini's music was quite popular during his lifetime, much of it has not remained in the standard repertoire; however, there has been renewed interest in his works with some modern performances and recordings.