Domenico Corri
Encyclopedia
Domenico Corri
was an Italian composer
, impressario, music publisher, and voice teacher
.
Corri was born in Italy and studied voice with Nicola Porpora
in Naples
. In 1781 he moved to Scotland with his family to become an opera conductor. He became an important singing master in Edinburgh
. Both his wife and daughter (Sophia Giustina Corri), who was a talented singer and pianist, were pupils of his. He was manager of the Theatre Royal
in Edinburgh, and also conducted the concerts of the Musical Society there. However, his attempt to start an opera company in Edinburgh wasn't a success.
Around 1790 Corri moved to London and began publishing vocal music in Soho
. Corri had financial problems on several occasions. With James Sutherland
and his son John Corri he founded a publishing business. When Sutherland died in 1790 the company ceased to exist. His son-in-law Jan Ladislav Dussek
joined the company in 1794. When the company of Dussek and Corri went bankrupt, Dussek left England for Germany, leaving behind his family, and his father-in-law (Corri) apparently in a debtor's jail. The business was later taken over in 1804 by his son Philippe Corri. An apprentice to Corri in London was Isaac Nathan
.
Domenico Corri was also the manager of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in London
. In 1812 Corri organised a concert in the Argyll Rooms in Regent Street, London. In this, the favorite concert hall in London at this time, Corri put together quite a contrasting program as the evening's entertainment: Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
's Stabat Mater combined with a Ball.
Figured bass
was, at this time, in decline and Corri invented a new system of accompaniments. Examples can be seen in A select Collection of the most admired songs, duetts etc.
Three of his children were musicians: Sophia Giustina Corri
(1775-1831), who later used the name Sophia Corri Dussek, Montague Corri (1784-1849), and Haydn Corri (1785-1860). His brother Natale Corri was also a composer and his niece, Fanny Corri-Paltoni
, was a successful soprano
.
was an Italian composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, impressario, music publisher, and voice teacher
Voice teacher
A voice teacher or singing teacher is a musical instructor who trains adults and children in the art of singing. This generally involves training in breath control and support, proper tone production, pitch control and musical intonation, proper formation of vowels and consonants as well as...
.
Corri was born in Italy and studied voice with Nicola Porpora
Nicola Porpora
Nicola Porpora was an Italian composer of Baroque operas and teacher of singing, whose most famous singing student was the castrato Farinelli. One of his other students was composer Matteo Capranica.-Biography:Porpora was born in Naples...
in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. In 1781 he moved to Scotland with his family to become an opera conductor. He became an important singing master in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Both his wife and daughter (Sophia Giustina Corri), who was a talented singer and pianist, were pupils of his. He was manager of the Theatre Royal
Theatre Royal, Edinburgh
Four theatre buildings in Edinburgh have borne the name Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, though the final three were all rebuildings of the second. The first was the Theatre Royal, Shakespeare Square, at the east end of Princes Street. This was opened 9 December 1769 by actor manager David Ross, and was...
in Edinburgh, and also conducted the concerts of the Musical Society there. However, his attempt to start an opera company in Edinburgh wasn't a success.
Around 1790 Corri moved to London and began publishing vocal music in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
. Corri had financial problems on several occasions. With James Sutherland
James Sutherland
James Sutherland may refer to:*James Sutherland , the first professor of botany at the University of Edinburgh, from 1676-1705*James Sutherland , Liberal minister...
and his son John Corri he founded a publishing business. When Sutherland died in 1790 the company ceased to exist. His son-in-law Jan Ladislav Dussek
Jan Ladislav Dussek
Jan Ladislav Dussek was a Czech composer and pianist. He was an important representative of Czech music abroad in the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century...
joined the company in 1794. When the company of Dussek and Corri went bankrupt, Dussek left England for Germany, leaving behind his family, and his father-in-law (Corri) apparently in a debtor's jail. The business was later taken over in 1804 by his son Philippe Corri. An apprentice to Corri in London was Isaac Nathan
Isaac Nathan
Isaac Nathan was an Anglo-Australian composer, musicologist, journalist and self-publicist, who ended an eventful career by becoming the "father of Australian music".-Early success:...
.
Domenico Corri was also the manager of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1812 Corri organised a concert in the Argyll Rooms in Regent Street, London. In this, the favorite concert hall in London at this time, Corri put together quite a contrasting program as the evening's entertainment: Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi was an Italian composer, violinist and organist.-Biography:Born at Iesi, Pergolesi studied music there under a local musician, Francesco Santini, before going to Naples in 1725, where he studied under Gaetano Greco and Francesco Feo among others...
's Stabat Mater combined with a Ball.
Figured bass
Figured bass
Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones, in relation to a bass note...
was, at this time, in decline and Corri invented a new system of accompaniments. Examples can be seen in A select Collection of the most admired songs, duetts etc.
Three of his children were musicians: Sophia Giustina Corri
Sophia Dussek
Sophia Giustina Dussek née Corri, later Moralt was a Scottish singer, pianist, harpist, and composer of Italian descent. She studied voice with her father, composer, music publisher, and impresario Domenico Corri. Her uncle was composer Natale Corri and her cousin was soprano Fanny Corri-Paltoni...
(1775-1831), who later used the name Sophia Corri Dussek, Montague Corri (1784-1849), and Haydn Corri (1785-1860). His brother Natale Corri was also a composer and his niece, Fanny Corri-Paltoni
Fanny Corri-Paltoni
Fanny Corri-Paltoni was a celebrated English operatic soprano active in Europe between 1818 and 1835. It was said that she possessed a voice of remarkable beauty and that she had a fine singing technique. She particularly excelled in the operas of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gioachino...
, was a successful soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
.
Publications
- A Select Collection of the Most Admired Songs, Duetts, &c, Volumes I-III 1779[?], Volume IV 1795. Reprinted in C. R. F. Maunder, Domenico Corri's Treatises on Singing: A Select Collection of the Most Admired Songs, Duetts, etc. and the Singer's Preceptor : A Four-Volume Anthology. New York; London: Garland Publishing, 1995. [Volumes also include musical sources for the Select Collection & The Singer's Preceptor].
- A Complete Musical Grammer, 1787.
- A Musical Dictionary, 1798.
- The Art of Fingering, 1799.
- The Singer's Preceptor, or Corri's Treatise on Vocal Music. London: Chappell, 1810 or 1811. Reprinted New York/London, 1995. Reprinted in: The Porpora Tradition: Master Works of Singing. Edited by Edward Foreman, Vol. 3. Champaign, IL: Pro Musica Press, 1968.
Operas
- La Raminga Fedele, 1770
- Alessandro nell'Indie, 1774
- The Travellers, or Music's Fascination, Drury LaneDrury LaneDrury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
, January 22, 1806