Giovanni Battista PergolesiArticle Free Pass Giovanni Battista
Pergolesi, (born Jan. 4, 1710, Jesi, Italy—died March 16, 1736,
Pozzuoli), Italian composer whose intermezzo La serva padrona
(“The Maid Turned Mistress”) was one of the most celebrated
stage works of the 18th century. His family name was Draghi,
but, having moved to Jesi from Pergola, the family was called
Pergolesi, meaning “of Pergola.” Sometime after 1720 he attended
the Conservatorio dei Poveri at Naples, where he earned a high
reputation as a violinist. In 1732 he was appointed maestro di
cappella to the prince of Stigliano at Naples and produced a
Neapolitan opera buffa, Lo frate ’nnammorato, and a mass
(probably his Mass in D). Both were well received. In 1733 his
opera seria Il prigionier superbo was produced. But it was the
comic intermezzo La serva padrona, inserted between the acts of
Il prigionier superbo, that achieved success. In 1734 Pergolesi
was appointed deputy maestro di cappella of Naples, and in May
he went to Rome to direct