Alessandro Scarlatti
The prolific Neapolitan maestro whose hundreds of operas and cantatas defined Italian Baroque music and laid the formal groundwork for the classical style to come.
1660–1725 (age 65)·Italian Baroque composer·Birthday: May 2
Biography
Alessandro Scarlatti was not just a composer; he was an institution. Arriving in Naples as a young man, he quickly became the dominant musical force, his operas setting the standard for the seria form with their crisp da capo arias and elegant orchestral writing. His output was staggering, composing over 60 operas and more than 700 cantatas that moved from theatrical brilliance to intimate, lyrical reflection. Scarlatti's genius lay in his ability to shape melody and structure, pioneering the three-movement 'Italian' overture that would evolve into the classical symphony. While his sons, including Domenico Scarlatti, would find their own fame, Alessandro's influence was the bedrock, teaching a generation of composers and providing a crucial bridge from the Baroque to the emerging Galant style.
#1 When Alessandro Was Born
The biggest hits of 1660
Alessandro's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1660Born
1665Started school
1673Became a teenager
1676Could drive
1678Could vote
1681Turned 21
1690Turned 30
1700Turned 40
1710Turned 50
1720Turned 60
1725Died at 65
Key Achievements
- Composed over 60 operas, establishing the standard musical forms and dramatic conventions of Neapolitan opera seria.
- Pioneered the three-movement 'Italian overture' (fast-slow-fast), a direct precursor to the classical symphony.
- Wrote more than 700 chamber cantatas, perfecting the form for solo voice and continuo.
- Served as maestro di cappella for the Vatican and several major Italian courts, shaping musical taste across the peninsula.
Did You Know?
He was the father of Domenico Scarlatti, the famous composer of keyboard sonatas.
He is credited with being one of the first composers to consistently use the accompanied recitative.
Much of his sacred music was lost when the library of the Naples conservatory was destroyed during World War II.
“The rules of composition are the servants of the heart.”
