Niccolò Jommelli

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Niccolò Jommelli Life

After preliminary musical instruction under a canon, he continued his studies at the Conservatorio dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo, and concluded them at the Conservatorio della Pietà de Turchini where his masters included Leo, in composition, and Prato and Mancini in choral music.

As a composer, he made his bow with several ballets and a church cantata, the latter of which elicited the great praise of Leo who prophesied a great future for the young composer.

In 1737 came Jommelli's first opera, L'errore amoroso, Jommelli being so uncertain about its merit that, upon its first the Teatro Nuovo in Napoli, he affixed to it a pen name.

This precaution was unnecessary: the performance was successful, receiving considerable praise from musicians in Napoli.

Encouraged by this reception, Jomelli composed his second opera, Odoardo - presented under his own name - which was so popular that it brought the composer a commission from the Cardinal Duke of York, at Roma, to compose operas expressively for him.

In 1740, Jommelli went to Roma.
Under the patronage of the Cardinal he produced two more operas - Ricimero and Astianatte - which increased his prestige.

As a result of these successes, Jommelli received a commission from Bologna.
While visiting this city to bring his opera to completion, he visited Padre Martini - probably the most famous musician in Italia at the time - begging to become his pupil.

Jommelli's reputation as a composer soon spread throughout Italia.
In 1747, he was appointed professor at the Conservatorio degli Incurabili.

His position in Italiana music had become so important that when the post of chapel master was vacated in Napoli, he was sent the manuscripts of all the contestants and asked to select the most successful candidate.

In 1748, Jommelli was invited to Wien, where his opera Didone was given its first performance.

This work brought Jommelli as much fame in Wien as his previous works had brought him in Italia.

The Empress, Maria Theresa, showered Jommelli with gifts and favours; and even so great a personage as the poet Metastasio did him honour.

Jommelli, back in Roma towards the close of 1749, was appointed assistant chapel master at St. Peter's, a post he held for four years.

From there he went to Stuttgart, summoned by the Duke of Württemberg.
For sixteen years he fulfilled his duties as chapelmaster at the exceptional salary of 4000 florins a year, exclusive of apartment and necessities.

The poor health of his wife brought Jommelli back to Italia, in 1769, when he received handsome offers from the King of Portugal to come to his country and compose operas for him.

Jommelli was too old and tired to begin travel anew and declined the generous offer.
The King of Portugal, however was so eager to do honour to the great composer that he specified, should he receive a copy of each of Jommelli's operas, the composer need not come to Portugal to receive the handsome income.

This stipend enabled Jommelli to retire to Aversa and devote himself to composition.
In 1770, his opera Armida - one of his most distinguished works - was performed in Napoli; young Mozart, aged fourteen, heard the work on his trip to Italia and wrote to his sister prasing it highly.

In 1771, Jommelli's opera Ifigenia was produced and became one of the few failures that he encountered during his life.

This failure broke his heart and spirit.
From that time on, he was unable to turn his hand to the composition of opera.

During the last two years of his life, Jommelli devoted himself almost entirely to church music, producing a Miserere which many critics believe to be his masterpiece.

Niccolò Jommelli died of apoplexy in Napoli on 25 August 1774.