Paolo Serrao

Paolo Serrao (born April 11, 1830 in Filadelfia , Vibo Valentia , † March 17, 1907 in Naples ) was an Italian composer and music teacher .

Serrao, who was noticed as a talented pianist even as a child, had piano lessons with Clementi's student Francesco Lanza at the Real Collegio di Musica in Naples . He also studied counterpoint with Carlo Conti . His most important teacher was Saverio Mercadante , who took over the management of the Real Collegio in 1840.

From 1852 Serrao taught at the Naples Conservatory , from 1863 he held the chair for counterpoint and composition . From 1878 he was director of the conservatory. His students included Giuseppe Martucci , Umberto Giordano , Leopoldo Mugnone , Michele Esposito , Francesco Cilea , Franco Alfano , Luigi Denza and Alessandro Longo .

In 1870 Serrao became director of the Teatro del Fondo , in 1873 director of the Teatro di San Carlo , where he directed the first performance of Verdi's opera Aida in Naples. In addition to several operas, Serrao composed orchestral works and chamber music , church music and numerous piano transcriptions of contemporary operas.

Works

• L'impostore , Opera semiseria, 1850
• Dianora de 'Bardi , Opera seria, 1853
• Pergolesi , Opera semiseria, premiered in 1857 at the Teatro del Fondo
• La duchessa di Guisa , Melodramma, WP 1865 at the Teatro S. Carlo
• Il figliuol prodigo , Melodramma, UA 1868 at the Teatro S. Carlo
• Gli Ortonesi in Sciò , oratorio
• Messa a quattro voci ed orchestra (dedicata a Francisco Florimo )
• Le Tre Ore di Agonia
• Messa da Requiem for soloists, choir and orchestra, dedicated to Mercadante
• Sinfonia for large orchestra
• Sinfonia funebre
• Elegia per violino (o cello) e piano