Antonio de Literes

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Antonio de Literes , also known as 'Antonio Lliteres Carrio' or 'Antonio Literes Carrión' (born June 18, 1673 in Artà on Mallorca , † January 18, 1747 in Madrid ) was a Spanish composer and cellist .

Life

Antonio de Literes already enjoyed a great reputation as a creator of sacred and secular music during his lifetime. Along with Sebastián Durón (1660–1716) and José de Nebra (1702–1768), he is one of the most important composers of Spanish incidental music of this era.

He began his musical career in 1688 when he joined the children's choir of the Capilla Real College in Madrid. After graduating from the “Real Colegio de Niños Cantoricos” Conservatory, where he was taught composition and harmony, in 1693 he was employed as the first cellist at the Capilla Real. The first compositions for stage works followed in 1697. During the War of Succession (1700–1713) he was appointed conductor of the institution in 1706 after the exile of his predecessor, Sebastián Durón. His most successful works include the opera 'Los elementos' (approx. 1718) and the Zarzuelas 'Acis y Galatea' (1708) as well as 'Júpiter y Semele', which premiered on May 9, 1718 at the “Teatro de la Cruz” in Madrid and was sold out for weeks. Many of his works come from the pen of the Spanish writer José de Cañizares (1676–1750). Antonio de Literes is the father of the two musicians of the royal court orchestra in Madrid, José Literes y Sánchez († 1746) and Antonio Literes y Montalbo († 1768).

Works (selection)

Zarzuelas

  • Júpiter y Yoo, los cielos premian desdenes (1699)
  • Júpiter y Dánae (1700)
  • Acis y Galatea (1708)
  • Ceronis
  • Con musica y con amor (1709)
  • Antes difunta que ajena (1711)
  • Hasta lo insensible adora (1713)
  • El estrago en la fineza, Júpiter y Semele (1718)
  • Celos no guardan respeto (1723)

Operas

  • Los elementos (ca.1718)
  • Dido y Eneas

Religious music

  • Oratorio sobre la vida de San Vicente de Padua (1720) (lost)
  • 3 fairs
  • 14 vespers
  • Miserere mei Deus
  • Sanctorum meritis
  • 5 sacred cantatas

various

  • 10 secular cantatas

Discography

  • 1998 - Los Elementos. Ópera armónica al estilo italiano. Al Ayre Español . Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472 77385 2
  • 2001 - Acis y Galatea. Al Ayre Español . Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472 77522 2
  • 2003 - Júpiter y Semele o El estrago en la fineza. Al Ayre Español . Harmonia Mundi Ibérica 987036.37 (2 CDs)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Literes, Antonio de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lliteres Carrio, Antonio; Literes Carrión, Antonio
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Spanish composer and cellist
DATE OF BIRTH June 18, 1673
PLACE OF BIRTH Artà in Mallorca
DATE OF DEATH January 18, 1747
Place of death Madrid