Giacomo Cordella (Naples, 25 July 1786 – Naples, 8 May 1847) was an Italian composer.
Biography Cordella studied in Naples with Fedele Fenaroli and Giovanni Paisiello. In 1804 he composed his first work, a cantata entitled La Vittoria dell'Arca contro Gerico.Fétis, Biographie universelle With the help of Paisiello in 1805 he had the possibility to produce in Venice his first opera, Il ciarlatano, which was appreciated for its comic verve and then performed in other cities in northern Italy, including Milan, Turin and Padua.
Cordella continued his activity mainly in Naples, where he was appreciated for his opere buffe, while his few opere serie met with failures. His greatest success was Una follia,Libby, New Grove Dictionary of Opera first performed in 1813, an opera buffa featuring "a vivacious plot and a melody that flows agreeably".Cruciani, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani Cordella composed also sacred music.
Works
Operas TitleGenreSubdivisionsLibrettoPremière dateTheatreIl ciarlatano, ossia I finti savoiardifarsa giocosa1 actLuigi Buonavoglia11 February 1805 Venice, Teatro San MoisèL'albergatrice scaltra 27 June 1807 Naples, Teatro San CarloAnnibale in Capua dramma per musica 2 acts Antonio Simeone Sografi(attribution uncertain) 21 October 1809 Naples, Teatro San CarloL'isola incantata farsa 1 act Summer 1809 Naples, Teatro NuovoUna follia commedia per musica 2 acts Andrea Leone Tottola 1813 Naples, Teatro dei FiorentiniL'avaro commedia per musica 2 acts Giuseppe Palomba Autumn 1814 Naples, Teatro dei FiorentiniL'azzardo fortunato commedia per musica 1 act Andrea Leone Tottola Carnival 1815 Naples, Teatro dei FiorentiniLa rappresaglia, ovvero Amore alla prova Cesare Sterbini 26 December 1818 Rome, Teatro ValleIl contraccambio dramma giocoso 2 acts Cesare Sterbini Carnival 1819 Rome, Teatro ValleLo scaltro millantatore commedia per musica 2 acts Giuseppe Palomba 16 July 1819 Naples, Teatro NuovoLo sposo di provincia commedia per musica 2 acts Giovanni Schmidt 29 September 1821 Rome, Teatro ArgentinaIl castello degli invalidi farsa 1 act 1823 Naples, Teatro NuovoIl frenetico per amore melodramma 2 acts Autumn 1824 Naples, Teatro NuovoAlcibiade azione eroica 2 acts Luigi Prividali 26 December 1824 Venice, Teatro La FeniceGli avventurieri melodramma giocoso 2 acts Felice Romani 6 September 1825 Milan, Teatro della CanobbianaLa bella prigioniera opera buffa 2 acts 1826 Naples, Teatro del FondoIl marito disperato commedia giocosa per musica 2 acts Andrea Passaro, after a comedy with the same title by Giovanni Battista Lorenzi Lent 1833 Naples, Teatro del FondoI due furbi commedia per musica 2 acts Giuseppe Palomba, revision by Andrea Passaro 16 July 1835 Naples, Teatro NuovoMatilde di Lanchefort melodramma storico 2 acts Andrea Passaro Spring 1838Naples, Teatro del FondoL'abitator delle rupi Le nozze campestri dramma per musica 1 act Giovanni Schmidt 30 May 1840 Naples, Teatro San Carlo
Other La vittoria dell'Arca contro Gerico, cantata, Naples, 1804 Manfredi trovatore, cantata, Naples, Teatro San Carlo, 6 July 1836 (in collaboration with other composers) Il dono a Partenope, cantata, libretto by Giovanni Schmidt, Naples, Teatro San Carlo, 30 May 1840 (in collaboration with other composers) Cordella composed many other works, including masses, motets and works for small ensembles.
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